DISCUSSION

The physician-referred patients who participated in our strength training study were mostly non-ambulatory individuals who initially required considerable assistance getting on and off the Nautilus machines. Nonetheless, after the introductory exercise sessions, they followed the standard Nautilus training protocol.

That is, they performed one set of each exercise with a weight load that produced momentary muscle fatigue within 8 to 12 controlled repetitions. This required a relatively high exercise effort, as 8 to 12 repetitions to fatigue represents about 70 to 80 percent of maximum resistance.

Because there were no injuries associated with the exercise program, it appears that standard strength training procedures are well tolerated by elderly nursing home residents. Unrelated to the exercise program, two individuals died during the course of the study and four others experienced unrelated illnesses that forced them to discontinue training. Two patients dropped out due to personal reasons. The 19 subjects who completed the 14_week strength training program reported that it was a positive experience and planned to continue their exercise sessions. According to the lead trainer, patients liked the challenge of serious strength training and saw much more improvement than previous resistance exercise with light cuff weights.

The six training exercises were selected specifically for non-ambulatory nursing home residents for the following reasons. The Nautilus Leg Press machine involves the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteus maximus muscles used for moving between seated and standing positions, such as getting in and out of wheelchairs. Strengthening these large leg and hip muscles should therefore improve the patients' ability to lift and lower their bodies. Because these muscles are also essential for standing and walking, the leg press is the foundational exercise in our strength training program. It is noted that the Nautilus leg press exercise is performed with the torso fully supported and at a right angle to the line of force through the legs. This prevents resistance loading on the spinal column which could be contraindicated for frail, elderly individuals.

The Nautilus Triceps Press machine targets the upper body pushing muscles, namely the triceps, pectoralis major, and anterior deltoids. These muscles are used in conjunction with the legs when rising from a wheelchair. Patients typically lean forward, place their hands on the chair armrests, and push hard as they attempt to stand. Of course, they use these same muscles to control their lowering movement when getting back into the wheelchair.

Because it is important to attain balanced muscle development, our third exercise is the Nautilus Compound Row machine. This exercise addresses the upper body pulling muscles (latissimus dorsi, teres major, biceps, and posterior deltoids), as well as the shoulder retraction muscles of the upper back (rhomboids and middle trapezius). An intended outcome of the compound row exercise is improved breathing through better posture and reduced round-shoulderness, which appears to be very common among nursing home residents.

Our fourth exercise is the Nautilus Low Back machine, which essentially isolates the trunk extensor muscles. Strengthening the erector spinae muscles should improve the patients' posture and counteract their typical slumped forward position. In addition, strong low back muscles have been shown to reduce discomfort in this vulnerable area of the body. Researchers at the University of Florida Medical School (Risch et al., 1993) have reported significant increases in low back strength and significant decreases in low back pain after 10 weeks of specific strengthening exercise for the lumbar spine muscles. Their training protocol was identical to that used in this study, namely, one set of 8 to 12 repetitions to the point of momentary muscle fatigue, performed twice a week.

The final exercises in our strength training program are neck extensions (upper trapezius) and neck flexions (sternocleidomastoids), both of which are performed on the Nautilus Four-Way Neck machine. One of the most prevalent problems among nursing home residents is the head-down position that makes it difficult for many patients to swallow, speak, and see effectively. Strengthening the upper trapezius muscles should help remedy this situation, enabling the patients to hold their heads erect more of the time. Strengthening the sternocleidomastoid muscles should enhance anterior-posterior muscle balance, and improve the patients' ability to turn their heads.

According to the instructional staff, the six resistance exercises were relatively easy for the subjects to learn and perform. With only six minutes of actual exercise time, all of the patients were able to do the strength training program Although transition time between exercises increased the session duration to 20 minutes for some subjects, the training program required a relatively small time commitment.

Previous strength training studies with older adults have produced significant improvements in body composition (Frontera et al., 1988; Fiatarone et al., 1990; Campbell et al., 1994; Nelson et al., 1994). Unlike this study, however, these training programs incorporated three sets of each exercise. Because our subjects made significant and similar body composition changes over a 14_week training period (about 4 pounds more lean weight and 3 pounds less fat weight) by performing only one set of each exercise, single-set protocols should also be given consideration for older adult strength training programs. Single-set protocols may be particularly advisable for elderly nursing home patients who are in poor physical condition.

Training intensity appears to be the critical factor for stimulating strength development, as one set of 8 to 12 repetitions to momentary muscle fatigue produced significant strength gains in the program participants. The 47.2_pound increase in leg press 10 RM represented about an 80 percent increase in lower body strength, and the 14.7_pound increase in triceps press 10 RM represented about a 40 percent increase in upper body strength. The practical result for most patients was less difficulty getting in and out of wheelchairs, and for one patient the ability to ambulate without a wheelchair.

Although the subjects did not perform stretching exercises during the course of the study, their joint flexibility improved significantly in both upper body and lower body sites. Apparently, the full-range strength training was responsible for increasing shoulder abduction by about 10 percent and hip flexion by about 50 percent. For nursing home patients with limited mobility, enhanced range of joint movement can have important practical applications in the performance of daily tasks, such as putting on and taking off shoes and clothing.

It is most encouraging to see elderly nursing home patients improve their body composition, increase their muscle strength, and enhance their joint flexibility. However, these physiological changes become more relevant if they result in greater functional capacity and personal independence in performing activities of daily living. The significantly higher FIM scores attained by the patients after the 14_week strength training program was therefore an important finding. The 11 point increase represented a 14 percent improvement in functional independence, indicating considerably less need for care giver assistance.

While this is good news for both patients and staff, higher FIM scores also have financial benefits. It is estimated that every point increase in a resident's FIM score reduces cost of care by 50 cents a day. An 11 point FIM score gain therefore represents a cost of care reduction of $5.50 per day. Multiplying this by the 19 subjects in the study, we get a daily cost of care reduction of $104.50. On a yearly basis, this equals $38,642. Because the strength training equipment costs less that half of this amount, the program would appear to provide desirable financial dividends. Of course, if 100 residents were involved in the strength training program, the annual cost of care reduction could easily exceed $200,000.

Other indicators of improved functional capacity were mobility distance, which increased by 71 percent, and incidence of falls, which decreased by 36 percent. All of these factors taken together attest to the practical benefits of the basic strength training program.

Because this was one of the first studies to examine physician prescribed and therapist supervised strength exercise in a nursing home facility, we interviewed several of the medical staff and a few of the participants to ascertain their perceptions of the strength training program. The following information was obtained from one-on-one interviews with the lead researcher on the final day of the program.

Dr. Pradeep Mathur

Medical Director, John Knox Village

Dr. Mathur was very pleased with the patients' progress, especially their improved functional capacity for the activities of daily living. According to Dr. Mathur, the program participants exhibited better physical and mental fitness, more endurance, and less low back pain. From a practical perspective, he found the strength training program easy to implement in the nursing home environment. He noted that the strength exercises were simple to teach and uncomplicated to perform, with gradual progressions to facilitate muscle development in elderly individuals.

Gary Brcka

Assisted Living Administrator, John Knox Village

Mr. Brcka is a hands-on administrator who is actively involved with the assisted living residents. He cited two examples in which the strength training program helped patients. In one case, an 87 year old female with compression fractures of the lower spine had been fitted for a brace to reduce pressure and pain. She participated in the strength training program without any discomfort and has discontinued wearing the brace, claiming that she does not need it any longer.

In another case, a double amputee had difficulty transferring from her wheelchair to her bed, as well as severe postural problems. Having completed the strength training program, she now gets around with greater ease, sits more upright in her chair, and breathes with less difficulty.

Mr. Brcka stated that other residents have shown notable improvements in gait, stability, and stamina. He also said that he would like to have all of the assisted living residents strength train on a regular basis.

Ms. Carol Sullivan

Director of Nursing, John Knox Village

Ms. Sullivan was initially uncertain about the usefulness of strength training for nursing home residents. She indicated that most nurses expect the elderly to be seated in wheelchairs rather than on Nautilus machines. Because nurses are generally unfamiliar with strength exercise, she believes that professional education is necessary in this area. Ms. Sullivan stated that with more muscle strength, some patients could spend less time in wheelchairs, and reported that one resident no longer needed a wheelchair after completing the strength training program.

Ms. Sullivan noted that the program participants claimed to feel better and stronger. She also observed that as the patients became stronger they were more capable and cooperative when working with the nurses. In her opinion, strength training may delay degenerative processes that cause nursing home residents to regress from walking independently, to walking with a cane, to walking with a walker, to using a wheelchair, to being bedridden.

Ms. Carol Ann McGovern

Director of Health Care Services, John Knox Village

As Director of Health Care Services, Ms. McGovern is responsible for numerous aspects of the nursing home operation. Her first observation regarding the strength training program was positive feedback from the patients, therapists, and nurses who participated in the study. She also noted much interest on the part of the other nursing home and independent living residents who would like to use the strength training facility.

According to Ms. McGovern, one of the unforeseen outcomes of the strength training program was closer communication and greater cooperation among the various care givers, including nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and recreation specialists. She also found that the strength training program provided an advantage for recruiting new professional staff.

Ms. McGovern reported that the campus's Wellness Committee showed high interest in the strength training program and considered it especially important for healthy residents who want to develop and maintain a functional level of physical fitness. Because so many residents are enthusiastic about the benefits of strength exercise, the newly constructed wellness center will include an expanded strength training facility.

From a promotional perspective, Ms. McGovern found that the strength training program makes a favorable impression on potential residents, giving John Knox Village a definite advantage in the competitive arena. Because she has seen many positive aspects of the strength training program, she is looking forward to expanding the facilities and equipment for greater resident participation in the future.

Ms. Donna Califano

Physical Therapy Assistant, John Knox Village

Ms. Califano worked very closely with the strength training participants, supervising all of the assessment sessions and a large percentage of the individual workouts. As the on-site program director, Ms. Califano reported that the patients enjoyed doing the strength exercise because they felt they were really working and seeing progress as their weight loads increased. She also noted that the therapists were very receptive to the strength training initiative, interacted productively with the patients, and considered conducting the exercise sessions one of their favorite tasks.

In Ms. Califano's experience, the serious strength training on Nautilus machines was both efficient and effective, with much better results than previous work with cuff weights. She believes that training with relatively heavy weight loads and reasonably high effort is essential for developing functional strength in patients, and that they must use progressively more resistance as they become stronger in order to eventually handle their own body weight, getting up and down and moving around without assistance.

Ms. Florence Griffin

92 Year Old Resident, John Knox Village

Ms. Griffin is a 12 year resident of the John Knox independent living campus who has undergone three back surgeries. Although not a member of the research study, her physician prescribed eight weeks of the strength training program for back rehabilitation. Ms. Griffin stated that as a result of her strength exercise she can now stand straight again. In her opinion, the strength training program helped both her back and her posture. She also attributed a feeling of well being and more energy to work around her campus home to her strength workouts.

Ms. Esther Duvall

84 Year Old Resident, John Knox Village

The interview with Ms. Duvall and her husband was most interesting. She claimed to hurt all the time prior to the strength training program, and her husband confirmed that she had a very low functional capacity. Ms. Duvall said she was somewhat frightened at first, but after using the Nautilus machines her strength increased and her walking ability improved. In fact, the combination of therapy and strength training enabled her to leave the nursing home and return to the independent living campus with her husband.

Ms. Peg Terbeek

77 Year Old Resident and Chairman of the Wellness Program Committee, John Knox Village

Although Ms. Terbeek was an active and energetic individual at the start of the study, she reported that her energy level and posture improved considerably as a result of the strength training program. In fact, she insisted that she now feels just like she did in her 20s in terms of muscle strength and physical function. Ms. Terbeek also noted that the program helped reduce her low back pain and that her chiropractor was very impressed with the effects of the strength exercise.

Summary of On-Site Feedback

Personnel and Residents, John Knox Village

All of the staff and participant interviews indicated a high level of satisfaction with the strength training program. The general consensus was that the strength exercises were easy to learn, satisfying to perform, and productive from a performance perspective. Everyone agreed that the strength training program was both safe and effective, and that it produced positive outcomes in addition to improved physical fitness and functional capacity.

Continue..