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Long-Term Exercise in Older Adults: 4-Year Outcomes of Music-Based Multitask Training

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Abstract

Prospective controlled evidence supporting the efficacy of long-term exercise to prevent physical decline and reduce falls in old age is lacking. The present study aimed to assess the effects of long-term music-based multitask exercise (i.e., Jaques-Dalcroze eurhythmics) on physical function and fall risk in older adults. A 3-year follow-up extension of a 1-year randomized controlled trial (NCT01107288) was conducted in Geneva (Switzerland), in which 134 community-dwellers aged ≥65 years at increased risk of falls received a 6-month music-based multitask exercise program. Four years following original trial enrolment, 52 subjects (baseline mean ± SD age, 75 ± 8 years) who (i) have maintained exercise program participation through the 4-year follow-up visit (“long-term intervention group”, n = 23) or (ii) have discontinued participation following original trial completion (“control group”, n = 29) were studied. They were reassessed in a blind fashion, using the same procedures as at baseline. At 4 years, linear mixed-effects models showed significant gait (gait speed, P = 0.006) and balance (one-legged stance time, P = 0.015) improvements in the long-term intervention group, compared with the control group. Also, long-term intervention subjects did better on Timed Up & Go, Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand and handgrip strength tests, than controls (P < 0.05, for all comparisons). Furthermore, the exercise program reduced the risk of falling (relative risk, 0.69; 95 % confidence interval, 0.5–0.9; P = 0.008). These findings suggest that long-term maintenance of a music-based multitask exercise program is a promising strategy to prevent age-related physical decline in older adults. They also highlight the efficacy of sustained long-term adherence to exercise for falls prevention.

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Acknowledgments

We are especially indebted to all members of the project team for their invaluable assistance with the trial and participants. We thank the staff of the Jaques-Dalcroze Institute of Geneva for their contribution, input and support. This work was supported by a grant from the Panacée Foundation. Drs Fielding and Reid’s work on this project was supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement No. 58-1950-0-014 and the Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (1P30AG031679). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Conflict of Interest

Mélany Hars, François R. Herrmann, Roger A. Fielding, Kieran F. Reid, René Rizzoli, and Andrea Trombetti declare that they have nothing to disclose.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This study was approved by the Geneva University Hospitals Ethics Committee (protocol PSY 10-175) and an informed consent was obtained from all participants for the extended follow-up.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Bone Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine Specialties, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1211, Geneva 14, Switzerland

    Mélany Hars, François R. Herrmann, René Rizzoli & Andrea Trombetti

  2. Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

    François R. Herrmann

  3. Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Laboratory, Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA

    Roger A. Fielding & Kieran F. Reid

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  1. Mélany Hars
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Correspondence to Mélany Hars.

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Hars, M., Herrmann, F.R., Fielding, R.A. et al. Long-Term Exercise in Older Adults: 4-Year Outcomes of Music-Based Multitask Training. Calcif Tissue Int 95, 393–404 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-014-9907-y

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