BACKGROUND: With the increase of life expectancy, the number of nursing homes accommodating institution-based older adults has also increased. It is important to determine the link between functional decline and cognition among elderlies to assist health care professionals in providing the necessary care to ameliorate the living conditions of elderlies in home institutions. METHODS: This descriptive observational study with correlational design recruited 30 institution-based older adults from three nursing homes in Leyte, Philippines. The researchers used Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Timed-Up, and Go Test (TUG) and 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) to assess the functionality of the participants and Pearson Product Moment Coefficient Correlation to determine the association between functional mobility and cognitive function. Simple linear regression analysis was employed to determine the level of significance of functional mobility and cognitive function while multivariate linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship of adjusted covariates. Statistical significance was set at (p˂0.05). RESULTS: The prevalence of probable cognitive impairment was 90%, which was predominant in ≥ 70 years old and male (91.6%). The common functional problems were impairment in dynamic balance and mobility at 70% and gait speed at 73.3%. The result showed significant correlation between the cognition and functional mobility. CONCLUSION Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in nursing homes. Institution-based older adults showed impaired dynamic balance and slow speed. Significant correlation between functional mobility problems and cognitive decline in institution-based older persons was established.

INTRODUCTION: Martial arts, other than Tai chi, are now being integrated into exercise programs to improve the balance control of older adults. This scoping review aims to describe the extent, range, and nature of available literature on martial arts use to improve balance control in older adults. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This scoping review will adhere to the steps described in the Arksey and O’Malley framework. Studies on martial arts use, aside from Tai chi, in improving balance in older adults are eligible. Only experimental studies written in English will be included. Literature search on published articles from inception to February 2021 will be conducted in ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Medline, and ProQuest. Grey literature search will be implemented in Google Scholar, Pro-Quest Dissertations and Theses Open, University of Santo Tomas Library. Handsearching for additional articles from reference lists of included studies will also be performed. Data on author and year of publication, country, study design, target population, type of martial art, exercise protocol, balance outcome measures used, and main findings will be extracted from the included studies. ETHICS AND DESSIMINATION: This protocol describes the rigorous process that will be implemented to map the breadth of existing literature on martial arts use in improving the balance control of older adults. Ethical approval is not required because only information from publicly accessible sources will be collected. Review findings will be disseminated through publications and presentations in local and international conferences and shared with relevant agencies and societies. SCOPING REVIEW REGISTRATION This protocol was registered in Open Science Framework (OSF): https://osf.io/vez68.

BACKGROUND: Older adults have varying outcome expectations on why they exercise. The Multidimensional Outcomes Expectation for Exercise Scale (MOEES) is a tool used to measure this; however, it has not been cross-culturally adapted yet in the Filipino setting. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to translate and cross-culturally adapt the MOEES into Filipino and establish its preliminary psychometric properties in terms of internal consistency and test-retest reliability in community-dwelling Filipino older adults. METHODS: This psychometric study is divided into two phases. Phase 1 will be on the MOEES translation and cross-cultural adaptation in accordance with the guidelines set by the Beaton Protocol. Phase 2 will be on the establishment of preliminary psychometric properties based on the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the adapted MOEES from at least 30 conveniently sampled community-dwelling Filipino older adults, aged 60 years old or above, with a Mini-Mental State Examination score of at least 24 and classified as active based on the Telephone Assessment of Physical Activity. Internal consistency will be assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and item-total correlations. Intraclass correlation/ ICC (3, K) will be utilized to establish the tool’s test-retest reliability. RESULTS This will develop a translated and cross-culturally adapted MOEES in Filipino with good internal consistency, item-total correlation, and test-retest reliability that can be used by health professionals as a guide in designing, implementing, and assessing exercise programs for older persons to ensure achievement of their treatment outcome expectations.
Exercise

Background: Increased falls rate in older adults may be due to a declining level of physical activity. However, there is currently no local assessment tool to assess the physical activity of older adults in the Philippines. Purpose: The objectives of the study were to: (1) translate the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) in Filipino (PASE-F); (2) establish the validity and equivalency of PASE-F version; and (3) determine the association between physical activity level and fall history in older adults living in the community. Methods: Standard translation procedure was followed. Qualitative analysis and appropriate revisions were done based on the comments of three health professionals in geriatric care. Equivalency was analyzed using two-sample t-test with equal variances, and Spearman Rho. The association of physical activity with fall history was established using simple logistic regression. Results: 310 (62.3% females) community-dwelling older adults, with mean age 68 ±6.5, from Manila, Philippines participated. The validated PASE-F and the original PASE were equivalent with a p-value of 0.84, and Spearman’s Rho of >0.05. No significant association was found between PASE-F scores and fall history, p-value = 0.16, 95% CI [1, 1.004]. Fallers show non-significantly higher PASE-F scores compared to non-fallers. Conclusion PASE-F is a valid and equivalent translation of the original PASE. However, obtained PASE-F scores did not show association with a history of falls. Prospective studies may be done to determine the predictive value of PASE-F scores in the incidence of falls.
Exercise

BACKGROUND: Arnis is the national martial art of the Philippines. Similar to Tai Chi, a martial art with established therapeutic effects, it can improve the balance control of older adults. However, no study has been conducted to prove this. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to design and evaluate an Arnisbased exercise program to improve the static and dynamic balance control of community-dwelling Filipino older adults METHODOLOGY: : A qualitative exploratory study will be conducted. An Arnis-based exercise program for older adults will be age-appropriately designed and video-recorded by the researchers. A heterogeneous group of resource persons composed of a Physical Therapist, Geriatrician, Sports Scientist, Arnis Expert, and Senior Citizen will be invited to watch the videos and evaluate the exercise program. Using the Delphi method and semi-structured interviews via the different online meeting platforms, they will provide feedback and comments about the exercise program based on their unique professional background, experience, and perspective. Thematic analysis will be employed in examining the gathered information. The modification of the exercise program and additional rounds of validation and feedback from the resource persons will be conducted as necessary until consensus is achieved EXPECTED RESULTS This will produce an alternative and culturally relevant exercise program that can be implemented by physical therapists and other health professionals caring for older adults in improving their balance control to reduce their risk of falling.
Exercise

BACKGROUND: Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, lockdown protocols for older adults were implemented globally to reduce their risks of contracting the virus. These restrictions could affect their physical activity (PA) and Quality of life (QoL). OBJECTIVES: This study aims to describe and to determine the association between the physical activity level and quality of life of Filipino community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines. METHODS: An analytic observational cross-sectional study will be conducted. 126 Filipino community- dwelling older adults aged 60 years or above in the Philippines will be conveniently sampled and recruited through online platforms. They will be asked to answer three questionnaires: 1.) a sociodemographic information survey for screening, 2.) the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly in Filipino (PASE-F) to measure physical activity level, and 3.) the Short-Form 36 Version 2 Philippines (Tagalog SF-36v2) to measure the quality of life. Data will be summarized using standard descriptive statistics, and the association will be assessed using the Pearson Correlation Coefficient Test. A p < .05 will be considered significant. EXPECTED RESULTS There will be an association between the QoL and PA level of Filipino community- dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines. This can guide healthcare professionals in formulating interventions and policies to improve older adults’ PA, QoL, and rehabilitation in the Philippines. The tools used in this study have very high reliability and validity scores, which may help future studies with similar topics.

BACKGROUND: The Covid-19 pandemic caused educational institutions to shift from traditional to distance learning. Higher educational institutions offering bachelor’s degrees in Physical Therapy (PT) adapted to the situation by employing various strategies to facilitate learning online. One of the strategies employed is inviting family members as simulated patients in various performance-based assessments (PBA). In the Philippines, the PT department at the University of Santo Tomas made similar changes in the delivery of its courses. Given that family members are one of the primary stakeholders of PT education, it is important to know their experience, insights, and knowledge gained about the profession of PT after playing as a simulated patient (SP) during online performance-based assessments. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore how family members describe their experiences playing the role of patients in PT PBAs. METHODS: This study will utilize a phenomenological explorative research design. Family members, including parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins, and household helpers who played the role of a patient in any PT PBAs such as case presentation, case discussion, and practical examination, will be invited to participate. Semi-structured one-on-one interviews will be used for data gathering. Qualitative data from interview transcriptions will be analyzed using thematic analysis using NVivo 12 plus program. EXPECTED RESULTS Family Members will offer experiences in role-playing as patients in PBAs. Main themes and findings will be generated from their sharing that will provide insights regarding the improvement of remote PT PBAs.