The effects of multidimensional exercise on functional decline, urinary incontinence, and fear of falling in community-dwelling elderly women with multiple symptoms of geriatric syndrome: A randomized controlled and 6-month follow-up trial

This study assessed the effects of multidimensional exercises on functional decline, urinary incontinence, and fear of falling in community-dwelling Japanese elderly women with multiple symptoms of geriatric syndrome (MSGS). Sixty-one participants were randomly assigned either to an intervention (n = 31) or to a control group (n = 30). For 3-month period, the intervention group received multidimensional exercise, twice a week, aiming to increase the muscle strength, walking ability, and pelvic floor muscle (PFM). Outcome variables were measured at baseline, and after intervention and follow-up. The functional decline of the intervention group decreased from 50.0% at baseline to 16.7% after intervention and follow-up (Q = 16.67, p < 0.001). For urinary incontinence, the intervention group decreased from 66.7% at baseline to 23.3% after intervention and 40.0% at follow-up (Q = 13.56, p = 0.001), whereas the control group showed no improvement. Intervention group showed greater and significant decrease in the score of MSGS compared to control group (F = 12.66, p = 0.001). Within the subjects that showed improvement to normal status of MSGS, a significantly higher proportion demonstrated increased maximum walking speed at follow-up (Q = 6.50, p = 0.039). These results suggest that multidimensional exercise is an effective strategy for reducing geriatric syndromes in elderly population. An increase in walking ability may contribute to the improvement of MSGS. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.