Objectives
We studied whether we can determine a degree of cognitive impairment in which the testing for need of physiotherapy cannot be evaluated without continuous non-verbal instructions in the elderly patients.
Present study was a retrospective observational quasi-experimental cohort study performed with patients of geriatric primary care hospital. Fifty-seven aged (>65 years) patients who are aiming to be rehabilitated to home-like facilities participated this study. We compared groups of different levels of cognitive performance (normal cognition, mild, moderate, and severe cognitive impairment) as determined with MiniMental(MMSE)-test by using their motor performance in Berg test.
Results
Severely cognitively impaired patients (MMSE≤11) were equally able to perform the Berg test as their less cognitively compromised controls if they were continuously advised non-verbally. However, standing without support, sitting without support, reaching forward, watching backwards by turning as well as turning around 360° were too difficult tasks for these patients to be performed without continuous extra assistance given by the physiotherapists.
Even the most cognitively impaired patients may be able to perform a motor program in physiotherapy. However, with these patients autonomous exercise is likely to fail and excessive work by physiotherapists is thereby required for their training.