MoveStrong at Home: A Feasibility Study of a Model for Remote Delivery of Functional Strength and Balance Training Combined With Nutrition Education for Older Pre-frail Adults.

Summary

Sufficient muscle strength helps to get out of a chair and can prevent falls. Up to 30% of older adults experience age-related loss of muscle strength, which can lead to frailty and health instability. Exercise helps to build muscle, maintain bone density and prevent chronic disease, especially during the aging process. However, more than 75% of Canadian adults ≥18 years of age are not meeting physical activity guidelines. In addition, it is known that malnutrition, including low protein intake, may lead to poor physical function. While there are services to support exercise and nutrition, barriers to implementing them persist. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the potential for physical inactivity, malnutrition, and loneliness among older adults, especially those with pre-existing health or mobility impairments. Now and in future, alternate ways to promote exercise and proper nutrition to the most vulnerable are needed. The investigators propose to adapt MoveStrong, an 8-week education program combining functional and balance training with strategies to increase protein intake. The program was co-developed with patient advocates, Osteoporosis Canada, the YMCA, Community Support Connections and others. MoveStrong was delivered by telephone or web conference to older adults in their homes, using mailed program instructions, 1-on-1 training sessions through Physitrack®, as well as online nutrition Q\&A sessions and group discussion sessions over Microsoft® Teams. The primary aim of this study was to assess feasibility and acceptability of a remote model as determined by recruitment (≥ 25 people in 3 months), retention (≥80%), adherence of (70%) and participant experience.

Conditions

• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Chronic Lung Disease
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Kidney Diseases
• Obesity
• Osteoporosis
• Stroke
• Frailty

Interventions

OTHER

Exercise program

Participants received two 1-on-1 exercise sessions per week to start. Each session lasted 30 minutes. As progress was made, participants were encouraged to exercise independently outside the structured sessions while continuing to receive a 1-on-1 session each week. The individualized exercises were aligned with functional movements to promote personal relevance: balance, pull, squat, push, hinge, lift \& carry and calf raise.

OTHER

Nutrition education

Participants received a nutrition education booklet and had access to five online videos that correspond to key topics in the booklet (reading nutrition labels, types of protein, foods containing protein, incorporating protein into meals, spreading protein in meals throughout the day). Participants attended three 60-minute nutrition Q\&A sessions led by a dietitian, where the group reviewed content from the booklet and videos, and discussed personalized strategies to increase protein intake.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Waterloo

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Lora Giangregorio, PhD · University of Waterloo

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-10-05

Primary Completion

2021-04-09

Completion

2021-10-12

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations