British study to help elderly patients

EDINBURGH, Scotland, July 21 (UPI) -- The University of Edinburgh has begun a study to determine how to help elderly people maintain physical independence and best recover after surgery.

The year-long study will draw volunteers from central and south Edinburgh, who will attend training sessions at the Royal Infirmary.

The group of 40 volunteers will help the team from the University's Geriatric Medicine section by learning simple pushing movements designed to train their leg muscles. Each volunteer will also undergo a muscle biopsy performed, with a small sample of muscle removed from the thigh.

"After illness or surgery, frail elderly people respond to rehabilitation programs with varying degrees of success," said Research Assistant Joanna Lynch said "This may be due to the way the muscles of older people respond to training, and we want to examine this process.