Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a multicomponent rehabilitation protocol on functional outcomes in a post-acute care facility.
Methods: Eleven older, medically complex patients (80.3 ± 7.3 yrs) completed a multicomponent rehabilitation protocol during a stay at a post-acute care facility. Gait speed, Berg Balance scores, and sit-to-stand velocity were examined upon admission and discharge. Bayesian paired sample t-tests were used to determine changes from PRE to POST and linear regression analyses were used to determine the influence of length of stay.
Findings: Gait speed increased by 0.26 m/s (49% increase) from PRE (0.65 ± 0.38 m/s) to POST (0.90 ± 0.42 m/s) exercise intervention (p = 0.013). Berg Balance Scores significantly increased by 26% from PRE (38.27 ± 8.33) to POST (45.73 ± 3.32) exercise intervention (p = 0.009). A 45% increase in STS velocity from PRE (0.37 ± 0.14 m/s) to POST (0.51 ± 0.13 m/s; p ≤ 0.001) was observed following the multicomponent rehabilitation protocol. Length of stay did not influence improvements in gait speed, Berg Balance Scores, nor Sit-to-stand velocity (p = 0.176-0.811).
Interpretations: The multicomponent rehabilitation protocol with movement velocity biofeedback is feasible in a post-acute care facility in medically complex older patients and demonstrates improvements in clinical mobility and balance outcomes.
Keywords: Balance; Exercise; Health; Resistance training; Skilled nursing.
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