Body@Work

Reducing the impact of geriatric conditions by physical activity

In the coming years there will be an increase in the absolute number of older adults as well as relatively compared to younger adults. One of the consequences will be an increase in the demand of care for this group, which will have to be delivered by a reduced number of health care workers. From the literature it is known that functional limitations lead to an increase of dependency which results in increased demands of care. For this reason prevention of limitations and disability are of the utmost importance.

Physical activity is one of the most powerful tools to prevent decline in mental and physical functioning. In this thesis the influence of physical activity in maintaining the level of functional limitations and disability in older adults will be studied. A special focus will be on older adults with common geriatric disorders which have a large impact on daily functional performance (the so called ‘geriatric giants’).

Three research questions have been formulated which cover three parts of the thesis. Part 1 describes the association between (habitual) physical activity and functional performance (using a literature review and a cross-sectional data set in older adults with generalized osteoarthritis). Part 2 studies whether it is possible to improve functional performance and disability by means of an exercise program in older adults with osteoarthritis and with urinary incontinence. Part 3 looks at the determinants and barriers of maintenance of physical activity behavior in older adults who participated in an exercise program.

PERIOD / PERIODE
2008-2010

FUNDING / FINANCIERING
Body@Work

INVESTIGATORS / ONDERZOEKERS
Erwin Tak, MA ^{1, 2}
Prof. Marijke Hopman-Rock, PhD ^{1, 2}
Astrid Chorus, PhD ^{1, 2, 3}

1 TNO Quality of Life, Department of Physical Activity and Health, Leiden, The Netherlands
2 Body@Work, Research Center on Physical Activity, Work and Health, TNO-VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
3 Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

OBJECTIVES / DOEL
The aim of this thesis is to study the role that physical activity can play in the prevention or reduction of the negative impact of common geriatric conditions on functional performance and disability.

METHODS / METHODEN
Literature review, secundary analyses, RCT’s.

RESULTS /RESULTATEN
Preliminary results show that there is a clear association between the level of (habitual) physical activity and functional performance in older adults with common geriatric conditions. Exercise programs are feasible in this group and lead to an improvement of functional performance. The level of disability also reduces, albeit in a later stage. Maintenance of exercise behavior after exercise programs is difficult but possible if some essential points are taken into account such as taking wishes and (physical) possibilities of participants into account. Increasing self management capacities (such as self efficacy, attitude etc.) improves maintenance of exercise behavior.

PUBLICATIONS / PUBLIKATIES
Tak E, Staats P, Van Hespen A, Hopman-Rock M The effects of an exercise program for older adults with osteoarthritis of the hip. J Rheumatol. 2005 Jun;32(6):1106-13.

Erwin Tak
More information:
e-mail: Erwin.tak@tno.nl
tel: 071 5181673