Protocol of group therapeutic exercises of people with Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Aging generates several biological changes that give rise to diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD) that can result in the functionality of the elderly. OBJECTIVE: To verify the effect of a physical therapy exercise program on the health of elderly people with AD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal study was carried out in elderly people with AD who attended a Day Care Center. Participants were selected using demographic characteristics and health conditions. For the analysis of the outcome variables, the pre and post intervention were evaluated with the tests: Timed Up and Go (TUG), Box and Blocks, Berg Scale and Functional reach in standing and sitting. Then they underwent a group intervention protocol divided into three phases: the preparatory phase, the active phase and the cooling down phase. Paired T-Student Test and Pearson's correlation were used for statistical analysis. Confidence Interval (CI) was established and p <0.05. RESULTS: We performed 28 sessions, with 11 elderly women, mean age of 88 (± 4) years, weekly attendance at the Center on Day 4 (± 1) times and mean score on the MMSE of 12 (± 5). They obtained statistical significance in the Seated Reach test pre 22.3 (± 10.4) and post 28.2 (± 9.0), with p = 0.003 and, in the TUG test pre 16.9 (± 5.8) and powders 2.5 (± 3.9), with p = 0.009. In addition, the Berg and TUG test showed a negative correlation, classified as good p = 0.020. CONCLUSION: The proposed protocol contributed to the improvement in functional health observed in the increase in the functional range and mobility of the elderly.