The effect of physiotherapy input on mobility skills of elderly people with severe dementing illness

Abstract

This study is part of an investigation into whether the provision of physiotherapy input improves or maintains mobility skills in elderly people with a dementing illness. Sixteen subjects were randomly allocated to either physiotherapy treatment followed by a no-treatment phase or vice versa. Ages ranged from 65 to 91 years. All subjects were severely demented. Physiotherapy input comprised music and movement groups, body awareness and functional mobility training. Each subject was videod and their mobility scored independently by three experienced physiotherapists. In comparison with the end of the control phase, the treatment phase showed a significant improvement (p=0.043). These results encourage a positive management approach to elderly people with severe dementing illness and justify larger-scale trials.