Physical Activity Component of the Greek Interventional Geriatric Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (GINGER)

Balance

The Greek version of the Mini-BESTest (Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test) is used to assess the balance of each participant comprising four primary assessment balance categories (anticipatory, reactive postural control, sensory orientation, dynamic gait). The Mini-BESTest focuses primarily on dynamic balance and contains 14 different balancing tasks, each scored from 0 (lowest level of function) to 2 (highest level of function). Thus, overall scores range from 0 (lowest level of function) to 28 (highest level of function) and subsequent subscales are scored as: Anticipatory tasts (0-6), Reactive Postural Control (0-6), Sensory Orientation (0-6) \& Dynamic Gait (0-10). Mini-BESTest takes about 10-15 minutes to be administered.

Upper limb muscle strength

The Hand Grip Strength test is an objective, established and standardised measure of upper limb muscle strength, comprising a standard electronic hand dynamometer (Jamar) for measuring muscle strength of the hand (measured in kgs).

Lower limb muscle strength

The lower limbs strength is measured using the 30 seconds Sit-to-Stand test, which is an objective, established and standardised measure of lower limb muscle strength. Participants are seated in the front part of a standard chair with their hands crossed in front of their chest, and they are asked to stand up completely (full extension of their knees) and sit back down to the chair as many times as possible during 30 seconds (measuring the repetitions).

Aerobic capacity

The 2 Minute Walk Test is an established and objective test for measuring aerobic capacity. Participants are placed in a hallway of nine meters and are asked to cover as much ground as they can in two minutes (measured in meters).

Fear of Falling

The Greek version of the Falls Self-efficacy International Scale (FES-I\_GREEK) is used to evaluate Fear of Falling. FES-I is a 16-item questionnaire with scores ranging from 16 to 64 points. Higher scores indicate higher fear and concern regarding falls.

Physical Function

The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ- 7) is used to evaluate physical function. IPAQ-7 is a 7-item questionnaire that calculates the physical activities taken place the last week (measured in METs).

Adherance to exercise

The Exercise Adherance Rating Scale (EARS) is a validated and recently adapted into Greek outcome for measuring execise adhearance as well as the reasons of non-adhearing, comprising of 16 question items, exploring adhearance (6 question items) and reasons for adhearance/non-adhearance (10 items). Scores range from 0 (adherance) to 64 (non-adherance).