Page 35 - Petelin, Ana. 2021. Ed. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
P. 35
https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-129-2.33-42
The effect of physiotherapy on the mobility
of patients with cognitive impairment
Kristina Batič, Marjetka Gomboc
University Psychiatric Clinic Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
kristina.batic@psih-klinika.si; marjeta.gomboc@gmail.com
Abstract
Introduction: Good mobility is crucial for achieving a good quality of
life among the elderly. Factors that affect mobility include aging, disease,
and injury, but also cognitive decline. A common reason for admitting
an elderly person to hospital care are complications associated with
the factors mentioned above. Being admitted to the hospital causes
additional stress among the elderly, which in practice manifests itself as
a risk factor for reduced mobility during hospitalization. The aim of the
present study was to determine the effect of a 14-day physical therapy
aiming at maintaining or improving the patient’s mobility. Methods:
We used a quantitative retrospective design. The study included 36
patients, 25 of whom were women (73.5 %) and 9 were men (26.5 %).
They were divided into 3 groups, based on the number of points each
individual achieved in the Mini-Mental State Examination test (MMSE).
They were grouped according to the guidelines of validated Slovenian
version of MMSE as follows: 23–19 points – mild cognitive impairment
(17 patients), 18–11 points – moderate cognitive impairment (12 patients)
and 10 points or less – severe cognitive impairment (5 patients). Patients
included in the study were admitted to the Gerontopsychiatric Unit of
the University Psychiatric Clinic Ljubljana between October 2020 and
April 2021. Inclusion criteria were: aged 60 years or older, confirmed
cognitive decline with MMSE, and inclusion in the physical therapy.
Exclusion criteria included: worsening of chronic disease, acute
deterioration of health or a fall during hospitalization. To assess the
patient’s mobility, we used the de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI).
Due to the abnormal distribution of the analysed data, the Wilcoxon
signed-rank test was used to examine the differences between the first
and second assessment with the DEMMI test. The statistical significance
of p < 0.05 was taken into account. Results: In the second assessment, the
results of the DEMMI test in all three groups improved. The most visible
The effect of physiotherapy on the mobility
of patients with cognitive impairment
Kristina Batič, Marjetka Gomboc
University Psychiatric Clinic Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
kristina.batic@psih-klinika.si; marjeta.gomboc@gmail.com
Abstract
Introduction: Good mobility is crucial for achieving a good quality of
life among the elderly. Factors that affect mobility include aging, disease,
and injury, but also cognitive decline. A common reason for admitting
an elderly person to hospital care are complications associated with
the factors mentioned above. Being admitted to the hospital causes
additional stress among the elderly, which in practice manifests itself as
a risk factor for reduced mobility during hospitalization. The aim of the
present study was to determine the effect of a 14-day physical therapy
aiming at maintaining or improving the patient’s mobility. Methods:
We used a quantitative retrospective design. The study included 36
patients, 25 of whom were women (73.5 %) and 9 were men (26.5 %).
They were divided into 3 groups, based on the number of points each
individual achieved in the Mini-Mental State Examination test (MMSE).
They were grouped according to the guidelines of validated Slovenian
version of MMSE as follows: 23–19 points – mild cognitive impairment
(17 patients), 18–11 points – moderate cognitive impairment (12 patients)
and 10 points or less – severe cognitive impairment (5 patients). Patients
included in the study were admitted to the Gerontopsychiatric Unit of
the University Psychiatric Clinic Ljubljana between October 2020 and
April 2021. Inclusion criteria were: aged 60 years or older, confirmed
cognitive decline with MMSE, and inclusion in the physical therapy.
Exclusion criteria included: worsening of chronic disease, acute
deterioration of health or a fall during hospitalization. To assess the
patient’s mobility, we used the de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI).
Due to the abnormal distribution of the analysed data, the Wilcoxon
signed-rank test was used to examine the differences between the first
and second assessment with the DEMMI test. The statistical significance
of p < 0.05 was taken into account. Results: In the second assessment, the
results of the DEMMI test in all three groups improved. The most visible
