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The water exercise improves health-related quality of life of frail elderly people at day service facility

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Abstract

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of water exercise at a day service facility and the effects of water exercise frequency on health-related quality of life (HRQL).

Methods

Participants (n = 30) were randomly separated into three groups: two indicating exercise frequency, at once-weekly or twice-weekly, and a control group. One-hour exercise intervention sessions were carried out once or twice a week, accordingly, for 24 weeks. The water exercise session comprised a warm-up on land, activities of daily living (ADL) exercises, stretching, strength training, and relaxation in water. HRQL was evaluated using the Medical Outcomes Survey Short-Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire, and ADL disability was assessed using the Functional Independence Measure.

Results

Significant differences were found between pre- and 6 months in both the once- and twice-weekly groups in HRQL (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found among pre-, 3 months, and 6 months. The effect size between the once and twice groups was moderate in both the physical component summary (0.72) and mental component summary (0.75) at 3 months. ADL disability shows significant correlation with HRQL.

Conclusion

Water exercise intervention at a day service facility improved participants’ HRQL for 6 months by improving exercise habits and ADL disability. Furthermore, the HRQL change differed according to exercise frequency: twice-weekly exercise showed more rapid improvement than once-weekly.

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Abbreviations

HRQL:

Health-related quality of life

ADL:

Activities of daily living

PNCIS:

The public nursing-care insurance system

SF-36:

The Medical Outcomes Survey Short form-36

FIM:

Functional Independence Measure

COPD:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

FM:

Fibromyalgia

PF:

Physical functioning

RP:

Role limitations due to physical health

BP:

Bodily pain

GH:

General health

PCS:

Physical component summary

VT:

Vitality

SF:

Social functioning

RE:

Role limitations due to emotional health

MH:

Mental health

MCS:

Mental component summary

BMI:

Body mass index

RPE:

Rating of perceived exertion scale

SD:

Standard deviation

ES:

Effect size

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Doctoral Program in Health and Sport Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan

    Daisuke Sato, Koichi Kaneda & Takeo Nomura

  2. Institute of Comprehensive Human Science, University of Tsukuba, Tennoudai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8574, Japan

    Daisuke Sato

  3. Faculty of Design, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Hitoshi Wakabayashi

Authors
  1. Daisuke Sato
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  2. Koichi Kaneda
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  3. Hitoshi Wakabayashi
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  4. Takeo Nomura
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Correspondence to Daisuke Sato.

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Sato, D., Kaneda, K., Wakabayashi, H. et al. The water exercise improves health-related quality of life of frail elderly people at day service facility. Qual Life Res 16, 1577–1585 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9269-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-007-9269-2

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