The Gerontologist, Vol 35, Issue 2 263-266, Copyright © 1995 by The Gerontological Society of America

ARTICLES

The feasibility of conducting strength and flexibility programs for elderly nursing home residents with dementia

PA Brill, AM Drimmer, LA Morgan and NF Gordon
University of South Carolina, Prevention Center, School of Public Health, Columbia 29208, USA.

A strength and flexibility training program was designed to determine the feasibility of conducting such a program with elderly nursing home residents with dementia. Training sessions included a warm-up and cool- down to improve flexibility, and a variety of strength exercises using Therabands to improve strength. Ten subjects met three times per week for 20 minutes each session. Throughout the program, the number of repetitions and the resistance of the Therabands was increased. At the end of the 11-week training program, improvements occurred in strength and flexibility. We conclude that this strength training program is feasible to conduct for elderly persons with dementia.

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