OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a progressive multicomponent physical therapy intervention in the home setting can improve functional mobility for deconditioned older adults following acute hospitalization. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Patient homes in the Denver, CO, metropolitan area. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 22 homebound older adults age 65 and older (mean +/- SD; 85.4 +/- 7.83); 12 were randomized to intervention group and 10 to the control group. INTERVENTION: The progressive multicomponent intervention consisted of home-based progressive strength, mobility and activities of daily living training. The control group consisted of usual care rehabilitation. MEASUREMENTS: A 4-meter walking speed, modified Physical Performance Test, Short Physical Performance Battery, 6-minute walk test. RESULTS: At the 60-day time point, the progressive multicomponent intervention group had significantly greater improvements in walking speed (mean change 0.36 m/s versus 0.14 m/s, p = 0.04), modified physical performance test (mean change 6.18 versus 0.98, p = 0.02) and Short Physical Performance Battery scores (mean change 2.94 versus 0.38, p = 0.02) compared with the usual care group. The progressive multicomponent intervention group also had a trend towards significant improvement in the 6-minute walk test at 60 days (mean change 119.65 m versus 19.28 m; p = 0.07). No adverse events associated with intervention were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: The progressive multicomponent intervention improved patient functional mobility following acute hospitalization more than usual care. Results from this study support the safety and feasibility of conducting a larger randomized controlled trial of progressive multicomponent intervention in this population. A more definitive study would require 150 patients to verify these conclusions given the effect sizes observed.

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