A randomized controlled trial of an activity specific exercise program for individuals with Alzheimer disease in long-term care settings.

Objective: To determine whether an activity specific exercise program could improve ability to perform basic mobility activities in long-term care residents with Alzheimer disease (AD).

Design: Randomized, controlled, single-blinded clinical trial.

Setting: Residents of 7 long-term care facilities.

Participants: Eighty-two long-term care residents with mild to severe AD.

Intervention: An activity specific exercise program was compared to a walking program and to an attention control.

Measurements: Ability to perform bed mobility and transfers was assessed using the subscales of the Acute Care Index of Function; functional mobility was measured using the 6-Minute Walk test.

Results: Subjects receiving the activity specific exercise program improved in ability to perform transfers, whereas subjects in the other 2 groups declined.