Effect of Adding Motorized Cycle Ergometer Over Exercise Training on Balance in Older Adults with Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Background: Falls secondary to balance disturbances have been considered as a burden on health systems in people with dementia aged above 65. Exercise has been increasingly recommended to address such problem and the main challenges being the commitment and supervision of training. The study's aim was to investigate the effect of adding motorized cycle ergometer (MCE) on high intensity functional exercise (HIFE) training on balance and cognition in older adults with dementia.

Methods: Sixty participants over the age of 65 were randomly allocated into 3 groups, Mo, Ex, and MoEx undergoing, respectively, 50 minutes MCE, HIFE, or combination of both. Sessions were done 3 times per week for 12 weeks. Outcome measures taken before and after study period were Berg Balance Scale (BBS), timed up and go test (TUG), and Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE).

Results: All groups showed significant improvement in BBS scores but not on TUG or MMSE scores. Between group analysis showed no privilege of any used training methods over the other for all measures taken.

Conclusions: Training with HIFE, MCE, or combination of both is effective in improving balance but not cognition. However, MCE can be an alternative to supervised exercise training in addressing balance.