Comparing Two Ways to Improve Walking Ability in Older Adults

Project Summary

PCORI has identified healthy aging as an important research topic. Patients, caregivers, clinicians, and others want to learn: What are the most effective ways to maintain and manage physical and mental health and quality of life among older adults with health conditions and their caregivers? To help answer this question, PCORI launched an initiative in 2021 on Healthy Aging: Optimizing Physical and Mental Functioning Across the Aging Continuum. The initiative funded this research project and others.

This research project is in progress. PCORI will post the research findings on this page within 90 days after the results are final.

What is the research about?

One in four older adults have difficulty walking. Trouble walking can decrease quality of life and increase the risk of future disability and death. Strength training exercises can improve walking ability. But many older adults don't do these exercises regularly.

Making the exercise program shorter may help older adults succeed at strength training. In this study, the research team is comparing two online strength training programs for older adults. Both programs include strength and balance exercises using equipment such as resistance bands. The programs are:

• Band Together, a group exercise program that takes place three times a week for 45 minutes.
• Functional Activity Strength Training, or FAST, a daily program that takes five minutes.

Both programs also include 30 minutes of support from a personal instructor per month.

Who can this research help?

Results may help doctors and older patients when considering ways to improve physical function.

What is the research team doing?

The research team is recruiting 700 patients in Pennsylvania who are ages 65 and older and have trouble walking. The team is assigning patients by chance to take part in one of the two online strength training programs for one year.

The research team is looking at patients' physical function at the start of the study and again 6 and 12 months later. The team is also looking at patients':

• Walking ability
• Walking speed
• Muscle strength
• Balance
• Physical activity and limitations
• Falls and injuries

Patients with walking difficulties, primary care doctors, and fitness center directors are helping to plan and conduct this study.

Research methods at a glance

Design ElementDescriptionDesignRandomized controlled trialPopulation700 adults ages 65 and older with walking difficultiesInterventions/ComparatorsBand TogetherFASTOutcomesPrimary: physical functionSecondary: walking ability, gait speed, muscle strength, physical activity, balance, physical limitations, and falls and injuriesTimeframe More InformationTimeframe Length of follow-up for collecting data on primary outcomes. View GlossaryClose 1-year follow-up for primary outcome