Investigating the Feasibility and Safety of High-Intensity Gait Training  in Inpatient Geriatric Rehabilitation:An Overview of the Methods

Research Objectives: Primary aim: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of providing high-intensity gait training in inpatient geriatrics rehabilitation
Secondary aim: To investigate the impact of high-intensity gait training on short-term mobility outcomes and discharge services required in adults undergoing inpatient geriatric rehabilitation

Design: Cohort study investigating feasibility and safety of an experimental intervention. Outcomes will be collected at admission, weekly, and discharge during the inpatient rehabilitation. Follow-up will be collected three months post-discharge.

Setting: Inpatient Geriatric Rehabilitation in a Primary Care Unit in Oslo, Norway

Participants: A consecutive sample of 50 patients undergoing inpatient geriatric rehabilitation. Inclusion criteria are adults > 65 years receiving inpatient geriatric rehabilitation for functional deficits, and with a goal to improve walking function. The participants are also needed to be medically cleared for exercise at 70-85 % of predicted maximum heart rate.

Interventions: The protocol consists of the delivery of high-intensity gait training at a targeted heart rate zone of 70-85 % of the age-predicted maximum heart rate.

Main Outcome Measures: Feasibility will be evaluated using data of stepping activity collected using the StepWatch 4 (ModusHealth) and cardiovascular intensities using heart rate sensors (Polar OH1 and Polar H10). Safety will be evaluated using data collected on adverse events during and outside PT sessions. Walking speed will be assessed using the 10-meter walk test, and the 6-minute walk test will be used to assess walking distance.

Results: The poster will focus on the methods of the project. If data is available at the time, preliminary analyses of feasibility and safety will also be presented.

Conclusions: The feasibility of providing high-intensity gait training in inpatient geriatric rehabilitation will be investigated using data of stepping activity throughout the day, heart rates throughout the day, and data from the documented PT sessions. The safety of the intervention will be investigated through descriptive analyses of adverse events, both during and outside PT sessions.

Author(s) Disclosures: The authors report no disclosures relevant to this activity