The Impact of Exercise Intervention on Physical Function Falls, and Physical Restraint for Long-term Care Residents

The prevalence of institutional physical restraint, both at home and abroad, remains alarmingly high. The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) in 1999 provided a comprehensive definition for physical restraint in nursing homes, encompassing any manual, physical, or mechanically related device, material, or tool attached to or installed on a resident's body that hinders their freedom of movement or contact with their body. The primary objective of implementing physical restraint in healthcare settings is to prevent patients from becoming agitated, safeguard them from self-inflicted injuries, protect the staff, prevent falls, and manage routine care and behavior control. Unfortunately, falls are a common occurrence among the elderly, whether they are living at home or in institutional settings.

Falls in the elderly are often attributed to a myriad of factors, including poor physical function and the use of multiple medications. Impaired physical function components such as diminished muscle strength, imbalanced balance abilities, delayed reaction times, postural hypotension, and cognitive dysfunction are frequently observed contributors to falls. Furthermore, malnutrition or undernutrition is a prevalent concern among the elderly, affecting those being cared for at home or placed in institutional settings. Malnutrition compounds the adverse effects on physical function, leading to muscular weakness and potentially the development of sarcopenia, a condition characterized by a loss of muscle mass and strength. This not only compromises immunity but also elevates the risk of disease and increases the likelihood of disability or falls among the elderly.

In response to these challenges, this study aims to be conducted collaboratively by the three private nursing type centers (Guang-nenn Care Center for the Elderly, Tung-shin Long-term Care Center, and the Hu-An Long-term Care Center for the Elderly). The study will involve 22 elderly patients. The primary objective is to address the multifaceted issues of physical restraint, falls, and declining physical function in elderly care facilities.

The research team began by conducting a systematic review of the existing literature on long-term care institutions, interdisciplinary teamwork care models, sports interventions, physical function, falls, and physical restraint. This comprehensive review served as the foundation for designing a 12-month "comprehensive multi-component exercise" program. The program is based on evidence from the literature and aims to enhance the strength, balance, and mobility of residents through carefully tailored exercise interventions.

The ultimate goal of the exercise program is to reduce the utilization of physical restraint as a means to prevent falls. By focusing on improving residents' physical abilities, the research anticipates a decrease in the need for physical restraint, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for elderly individuals in these long-term care facilities.

Inclusion criteria

• Age is 65 years or older
• Placement is greater than or equal to 6 months
• Less dependency in activities of daily life (ADL) function50 (severe to moderate dependency, Barthel index: 21 ≤ score ≤ 90)
• Able to understand the exercise instructions and follow the order.

Exclusion criteria

• Skeletomuscular (severe osteoarthritis (OA) or recent or mal- or non-union fracture, etc.) or cardiopulmonary diseases (COVID-19 or unstable angina or controlled hypertension, etc.) that are unstable and pose a threat to safety
• Mental disorders that prevent the subject from following instructions (severe mental disorder, Short Portable Mental State Questionnaire (SPMSQ): 8 ≤ score ≤ 10).
• Protein supplementations are contraindicated.