Dual-Task vs. Multicomponent Exercise in Institutionalized Seniors

Summary

The aging global population faces a major public health challenge regarding the growing number of older adults in long-term care facilities. Institutionalized older adults exhibit high rates of sedentary behavior, accelerating physiological decline (such as sarcopenia, diminished muscle strength, and impaired balance) and increasing fall risk. Beyond biomechanical risks, the fear of falling acts as a psychological barrier, creating a negative spiral of frailty where a lack of confidence leads to activity restriction. This further reduces functional capacity and paradoxically increases the actual fall risk. Addressing fall risk requires interventions targeting both the physical mechanisms of balance and the psychological mechanisms of self-efficacy.

Current WHO guidelines emphasize multicomponent physical activity (combining balance, strength, and aerobic training) to prevent falls. However, traditional programs may not fully address the cognitive-motor interference of real-world falls, which often occur during complex, divided-attention tasks. Institutionalized older adults often struggle to allocate attentional resources efficiently. This study posits that breaking the spiral of inactivity requires stimulating the complex demands of daily living. The investigators hypothesize that a Dual-Task Exercise Program, integrating cognitive challenges (e.g., executive function tasks, memory recall) into a multicomponent routine, will provide superior benefits compared to a Multicomponent Exercise Program alone. By training cognitive functions to process mental stimuli while maintaining motor control, the goal is to improve physical and cognitive capabilities and enhance participants' confidence.

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of these two modalities on physical fall risk and psychological fear of falling. Conducted in a nursing home for over 12 weeks, participants will be randomly assigned to either the Control Group (Multicomponent Training: physical strength and balance) or the Experimental Group (Dual-Task Training: physical protocol with simultaneous cognitive stimulation).

Conditions

• Fear of Falling

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Dual-Task Exercise Program

Participants perform the exact same physical exercises as the control group (same duration, frequency, and intensity), but with simultaneous cognitive tasks designed to induce cognitive-motor interference. Tasks include verbal fluency (naming animals/colors), arithmetic calculations (subtraction), and memory recall while performing motor movements.

BEHAVIORAL

Multicomponent Exercise Program

The program consists of 45-60 minute sessions, twice a week for 12 weeks. It includes resistance training (using free weights, elastic bands, and body weight), static and dynamic balance training, and aerobic walking exercises. Intensity is moderate, adjusted to individual tolerance using the Borg Scale.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Instituto Politécnico de Leiria

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-03-01

Primary Completion

2026-06-30

Completion

2026-07-30

Countries

• Portugal

Study Locations