New research into feasibility

Researcher and physiotherapist Dennis Boer believed this could be done differently. Together with his research team, THERA-Trainer, and Bike Labyrinth, he investigated whether a 10-week personalized exercise program is feasible for people with dementia. The results of this study were recently published in The Journal of Aging Research & Lifestyle (Boer 2025). The study evaluated program feasibility, safety, acceptance by participants and supervisors, and adherence (“completion of assessments, participant adherence, adverse events, and acceptability by participants and supervisors”).

Participants and study design

The study was conducted in two nursing homes. Participants had a diagnosis of dementia, lived in the care facility, were able to walk at least 50 meters (with or without assistance), and were open to participating in an exercise program.

The program consisted of four exercise moments per week:

• Two group sessions focused on balance and strength training
• Two individual sessions in which participants cycled using Bike Labyrinth
  
  All sessions were supervised by a physiotherapist.
  Of the 59 residents approached and screened, 11 were eligible to participate in the program.

High adherence and positive experiences

Participation rates were high. Group sessions were attended in 92% of cases, and individual Bike Labyrinth sessions in 87%. Only one participant dropped out completely. Nine completed both program components, and one participant completed only the individual cycling component.

A total of 137 adverse events were recorded during the study. Nine were possibly related to the exercise intervention, but all were mild and temporary (e.g., fatigue).

The program was also evaluated positively. Participants gave an average rating of 4.3 out of 5. Supervisors were also enthusiastic. They indicated that knowledge of dementia, person-centered communication, and adjusting the approach to the individual supported successful implementation. One challenge was incorporating the sessions into the daily routine of the nursing home.

Conclusion and next steps

The researchers conclude that this 10-week exercise program is feasible and workable for people with dementia living in a nursing home. The next step is a larger controlled study examining the actual effectiveness of the intervention.

Strengths and areas for improvement

A key strength of the study is the personalized support. Tailored routes and guided physiotherapist supervision contributed to high adherence and safety. The combination of group sessions and individual Bike Labyrinth sessions fostered both social interaction and individual engagement – important motivators for continued activity.

At the same time, the study has several limitations:

• a relatively small number of participants
• no control group
• short intervention duration
  
  Given that the aim was to obtain a first impression, these limitations can be addressed in future research. However, the initial results are promising and show that a program like this is feasible for people with dementia in a nursing home.