OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of a standing intervention on gait speed for older adults living in long term care (LTC) residences. DESIGN: A parallel superiority cluster randomized controlled trial. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: LTC residences. A total of 95 LTC residents (n = 47 control; n = 48 intervention) participated in the study. METHODS: LTC residences and therefore the residents from the homes were randomized to either the intervention group (standing up to 100 minutes/week) for 22 weeks or the control group (socializing with staff with no encouragement to stand for up to 100 minutes/week) for 22 weeks. The primary outcome is gait speed measured by the 10-meter walking speed test. RESULTS: A total of 95 participants (n = 47 in the control group and n = 48 in the intervention group) age 86 +/- 8 years completed the trial, averaging 41.9 +/- 30.3 min of standing per week in the intervention group and 48.4 +/- 22.8 min of time matched activity in the control group. There was no significant difference between groups in changes in gait speed (Beta -0.034, 95 % CI -0.097 to 0.028). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This 22-week standing intervention did not improve gait speed in older adults living in LTC residences. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov -- NCT03796039.

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