The Effect of Exercise in Elderly Patients (Essay Sample)

The Effect of Exercise in Elderly Patients
The effect of exercise in elderly patients in residential care facilities was examined in four research studies. Exercise modalities differed between research designs. Faber et al. (2006) utilized intensity group exercise programs, while Rosendahl et al. (2008) studied the effects of high-intensity functional exercise. On the other hand, Cakar et al. (2010) investigated regular exercise, while Cadore et al. (2014) studied multicomponent training. Each of these exercise regimens have their strengths and weaknesses; nevertheless, the conclusions of each study were universal in that falls were better prevented in groups that exercised.
However, a comparison of study designs is pertinent in order to assess the studies further. Faber et al. (2006) compared functional walking (FW) and in balance (IB) group exercise programs. The incidence of falls was decreased significantly in the IB group compared to the FW group. Rosendahl et al. (2008) conducted subgroup analyses and found that improvements in balance reduced the incidence of falls. Both Faber et al. (2006) and Rosendahl et al. (2008) concluded that improvements in balance decreases the rate of falls in elderly patients. Comparing Faber et al. (2006) and Rosendahl et al. (2008), it can be seen that the two studies are similar in that they both found that balance is critical to reducing falls in elderly patients living in long-term care facilities.
On the other hand, Cakar et al. (2010) and Cadore et al. (2014) conducted randomized controlled trials to study the effects of exercise on elderly patients. The similarities between the two studies are that they both used exercise to determine the degree to which falls can be reduced. In addition, similarities between the two studies include the fact that they both used combination exercises to study their participants. In the study by Cakar et al. (2010), a combined exercise program (COM) was compared to a combined exercise program with jumping (COMpJ). Cakar et al. (2010) found that there was reduction of falls in both groups; however, the reduction was greatest in the COMpJ group because of the positive impact of jumping on balance. Similar results were found by Cadore et al. (2014), who found that improved muscle strength, power, and balance significantly reduced the incidence of falls in the experimental group. In both these studies, similar findings were seen in that there was a positive relationship between balance and fall reduction.
All four research studies found that fall reduction is related to improvements in balance in the elderly. Exercises that improve balance were able to reduce falls in control groups. Faber et al. (2006) differed in investigating the FW versus the IB group, but this difference is minimal in that the IB group was found to be superior. Cakar et al. (2010) also correlated exercise with health-related quality of life and found that it was significantly improved in groups that exercised, no matter the type of exercise. However, additional jumping exercises that promoted balance further reduced the incidence of falls (Cakar et al. 2010). Thus, the four studies had similar findings in that they all found that balance, improved through exercise, reduces the incidence of falls in elderly patients living in long-term care facilities. These studies are also similar in that their interventions were the same across experimental groups.
There are similar limitations that are related in all four studies. These include the fact that their sample sizes were smaller than desired and thus, they cannot be generalized to a larger population. Another limitation that is similarly related in all four studies is that they were directed at elderly patients in long-term care facilities, but they did not include patients who were not in these facilities. The main research gaps between the four literatures include whether there is a general effect of exercise aside from muscle strength and balance on fall reduction. Another gap is whether exercise itself, by promoting blood flow and circulation, can reduce falls. Thus, the answer to the research question is that improvements in balance can reduce the incidence of falls in elderly patients living in long-te...