Biomedical subjects

Håkan Littbrand

Publications and source records attributed to Håkan Littbrand.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

High-intensity functional exercise program and protein-enriched energy supplement for older persons dependent in activities of daily living: a randomised controlled trial.

The aims of this randomised controlled trial were to determine if a high-intensity functional exercise program improves balance, gait ability, and lower-limb strength in older persons dependent in activities of daily living and if an intake of protein-enriched energy supplement immediately after the exercises increases the effects of the training. One hundred and ninety-one older persons dependent in activities of daily living, living in residential care facilities, and with a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of ? 10 participated. They were randomised to a high-intensity functional exercise program or a control activity, which included 29 sessions over 3 months, as well as to protein-enriched energy supplement or placebo. Berg Balance Scale, self-paced and maximum gait speed, and one-repetition maximum in lower-limb strength were followed-up at three and six months and analysed by 2 x 2 factorial ANCOVA, using the intention-to-treat principle. At three months, the exercise group had improved significantly in self-paced gait speed compared with the control group (mean difference 0.04 m/s, p = 0.02). At six months, there were significant improvements favouring the exercise group for Berg Balance Scale (1.9 points, p = 0.05), self-paced gait speed (0.05 m/s, p = 0.009), and lower-limb strength (10.8 kg, p = 0.03). No interaction effects were seen between the exercise and nutrition interventions. In conclusion, a high-intensity functional exercise program has positive long-term effects in balance, gait ability, and lower-limb strength for older persons dependent in activities of daily living. An intake of protein-enriched energy supplement immediately after the exercises does not appear to increase the effects of the training.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2006

A high-intensity functional weight-bearing exercise program for older people dependent in activities of daily living and living in residential care facilities: evaluation of the applicability with focus on cognitive function.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Knowledge concerning the applicability and the effect of high-intensity exercise programs is very limited for older people with severe cognitive and physical impairments. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of a high-intensity functional weight-bearing exercise program among older people who are dependent in activities of daily living and living in residential care facilities. A second aim was to analyze whether cognitive function was associated with the applicability of the program. SUBJECTS: The subjects were 91 older people (mean age=85.3 years, SD=6.1, range=68-100) who were dependent in personal activities of daily living and randomly assigned to participate in an exercise intervention. Their mean score for the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was 17.5 (SD=5.0, range=10-29). METHODS: A high-intensity functional weight-bearing exercise program was performed in groups of 3 to 7 participants who were supervised by physical therapists. There were 29 exercise sessions over 13 weeks. Attendance, intensity of lower-limb strength and balance exercises, and occurrence and seriousness of adverse events were the outcome variables in evaluating the applicability of the program. RESULTS: The median attendance rate was 76%. Lower-limb strength exercises with high intensity were performed in a median of 53% of the attended exercise sessions, and balance exercises with high intensity were performed in a median of 73% of the attended exercise sessions. The median rate of sessions with adverse events was 5%. All except 2 adverse events were assessed as minor and temporary, and none led to manifest injury or disease. No significant differences were observed in applicability when comparing participants with dementia and participants without dementia. In addition, there was no significant correlation between applicability and the MMSE score. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results suggest that a high-intensity functional weight-bearing exercise program is applicable for use, regardless of cognitive function, among older people who are dependent in activities of daily living, living in residential care facilities, and have an MMSE score of 10 or higher.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2005

A 1-year combined weight-bearing training program is beneficial for bone mineral density and neuromuscular function in older women.

Forty-eight community living women 66-87 years old volunteered to participate in a 12-month prospective, randomized, controlled, trial. The aim was to determine if a combined weight-bearing training program twice a week would be beneficial to bone mineral density and neuromuscular function. The participants were pairwise age-matched and randomly assigned to either an exercise group (n=24) or a control group (n=24). Twenty-one subjects in the intervention group and 19 in the control group completed the study. The exercise program lasted for 50 min and consisted of a combination of strengthening, aerobic, balance and coordination exercises. The mean percentage of scheduled sessions attended for the exercise group was 67%. At the completion of the study, the intervention group showed significant increments in bone mineral density of the Ward's triangle (8.4%, P<0.01) as well as improvement in maximum walking speed (11.4%, P<0.001) and isometric grip strength (9.9%, P<0.05), as compared to the control group. The conclusion was that a combined weight-bearing training program might reduce fracture risk factors by improving bone density as well as muscle strength and walking ability. This program could be suitable for older community living women in general, and might, therefore, have important implications for fracture prevention.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Jumping exercises with and without raloxifene treatment in healthy elderly women.

Several meta-analyses confirm that physical exercise can slow down postmenopausal bone loss, but it is not clear whether physical exercise alone can increase bone mass. Our intent was to evaluate high-impact exercises (including jumping) and combined balance and leg-strength training, with and without raloxifene treatment, in three healthy elderly women, age 68-71 years. The 40-week study period consisted of two 17-week exercise periods with a 6-week rest period in between. The jumping exercises were performed both vertically and in different directions. Effects were measured in bone mineral density (BMD), balance, maximal gait speed, and leg extensor strength. BMD (g/cm(2)) was measured with dual-energy X-ray photon absorptiometry (DXA) at the proximal femur, lumbar spine, and total body. After the first exercise period, large losses of trochanteric BMD (8.1%-10.8%) were seen in all subjects. After both 6 weeks of rest and the second exercise period, which included both exercise and raloxifene, BMD increased in all subjects. During both exercise periods, the balance, gait speed, and leg extensor strength increased in all subjects. The results show that this kind of high-impact exercise had limited effects on BMD, but had large positive effects on balance, gait speed, and leg extensor strength. In conclusion, high-impact exercise in elderly women improves their fall risk factors, but, at least without raloxifene treatment, the trochanteric fracture risk might even increase because of reduction in the regional bone mass.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗