Environment in institutional care settings as a promoting factor for older individuals' mobility: A systematic review.
Noora Narsakka, Riitta Suhonen, Minna Stolt
PMID 34893995WHAT IT FOUND
Exercise programmes in institutional care improved older residents’ mobility, but the review did not show that environmental changes alone improve mobility.
Key findings
01All five exercise interventions reported positive mobility effects, but four also included environmental components, so the contribution of exercise alone cannot be separated.
02Among the three studies using non-exercise main strategies, only moving to new facilities showed any positive mobility effect.
03Moving to new facilities improved independence in activities of daily living, but not walking or getting in and out of bed.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies used different aims, interventions and outcome measures, so their effects could not be combined. The search used only two databases and English-language articles, so relevant studies may have been missed. No included study was specifically designed to test whether the environment promotes mobility. Blinding was often not feasible, which lowered quality scores. Studies were not excluded based on methodological quality. Most positive results came from exercise programmes, often combined with other components, not from environmental changes alone.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The paper names Turun Yliopistollinen Keskussairaala as the funder.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that changing the building, equipment or sensor systems improves mobility. Most positive mobility results came from exercise programmes, often combined with other components, and the review found no clear evidence for environmental solutions alone.