Resisted Exercise Initiative (RExI)

Original Editor - Shaimaa Eldib Top Contributors - Shaimaa Eldib, Kim Jackson, Oyemi Sillo and Aminat Abolade

This article is currently under review and may not be up to date. Please come back soon to see the finished work! (4/12/2021)

Introduction

RExI is an abbreviation for the PT Knowledge Broker facilitated project started in April 2019: Resisted Exercise Initiative (RExI) – Use of resisted exercise by physiotherapists for elderly patients in British Colombia (BC) Hospitals.

The current volume and level of acuity of elderly patients in acute care settings challenges physical therapists to address all needs. One related aspect of practice that is receiving increasing attention is the optimal prescription of resistance exercise in these settings.

Goal: To support best practice in use of resisted exercise by physical therapists for elderly patients in BC Hospitals.

Objectives:

1. To determine existing practice.
2. To identify opportunities to support enhanced practice.
3. To undertake knowledge translation (KT) strategies to target barriers to enhance using of resisted exercise.
4. To evaluate effect of introduction of the KT strategies.

This project will:

• Describe current practice to confirm whether there is ‘a gap’ between current actual and desired evidence-based practice for PTs in BC.
• Determine the barriers to desired evidence-based practice from the perspective of the front-line public-practice PT.
• Map the barriers identified to categories identified by KT/implementation/behaviour change science.
• Using KT/implementation/behaviour change science and resources to identify targeted KT strategies to address the barriers.
• Develop/undertake, disseminate & support implementation of the targeted strategies.
• Re-evaluate practice post-implementation of the strategies.

Resistance Exercise Tool Kit

Definition&Benefits

Resistance Exercise;

Defined as movement using body weight or external resistance that improves muscular strength ,power , endurance and it may positively impact mobility ,function and independence.

Benefits of resistance exercise ;

• Improving muscle strength and tone.
• Maintaining flexibility and balance .
• Weight management and increased muscle to fat ratio.
• May help in prevent or reduce cognitive decline in older people.
• Greater stamina ( people will not tire easily due to improved body strength ).
• Prevention or control of chronic conditions ...eg (back pain, heart disease , arthritis , obesity &depression ).
• Pain management .
• Improved posture and decrease risk of injury.
• Decrease risk of osteoporosis by helping in increasing bone density.
• Improve sense of wellbeing , boost confidence and self-esteem.

A statement from National Strength and Conditioning Association highlighted the benefits of resistance exercise to older people ( Fragala et al .2019).

Aproberly designed resistance training programme can help in :

1. Counteracting the age related changes in human skeletal muscle.
2. Enhance the muscular strength