{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T06:03:49Z","timestamp":1789625029389,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1789603200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Informal caregivers of people living with dementia are exposed to sustained physical and psychological demands that may increase their risk of functional decline, anxiety, and caregiver burden. While exercise and relaxation interventions have shown independent benefits, evidence on structured multicomponent programs integrating both physical and psychological approaches remains limited. This study protocol describes a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a combined functional strength training and progressive muscle relaxation program in informal caregivers.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A prospective, parallel-group randomized controlled trial will be conducted in informal caregivers of people with dementia. Sixty-two informal caregivers will be randomly allocated (1:1) to either a combined intervention group (functional strength training plus progressive muscle relaxation) or a comparison group receiving progressive muscle relaxation alone. The intervention will last 10\u202fweeks. The combined intervention group will attend two weekly sessions (one strength training and one relaxation session), whereas the comparison group will attend one weekly relaxation session. Lower-extremity physical performance, assessed using the total Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score at 10\u202fweeks, will be the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes will include handgrip strength, anxiety, caregiver burden, adherence, and safety. Outcomes will also be assessed at the 3-month follow-up. Analyses will follow the intention-to-treat principle.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This trial will provide evidence on the effectiveness, feasibility, and safety of a structured multicomponent intervention targeting both physical function and psychological burden in informal caregivers. The findings may contribute to the development of comprehensive and replicable caregiver support programs in real-world health and social care settings.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Clinical trial registration<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      <jats:ext-link>ClinicalTrials.gov<\/jats:ext-link>\n                      , Identifier: NCT07388186.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1944170","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]],"date-time":"2026-09-17T05:32:50Z","timestamp":1789623170000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Combined functional strength training and progressive muscle relaxation in informal caregivers of people with dementia: protocol for a randomized controlled trial"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Alba","family":"S\u00e1nchez-Gil","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Referencia Estatal de atenci\u00f3n a personas con enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias, Imserso","place":["Salamanca, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Juan Luis","family":"S\u00e1nchez-Gonz\u00e1lez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigaci\u00f3n Biom\u00e9dica de Salamanca (IBSAL)","place":["Salamanca, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marta","family":"G\u00f3mez-Mateos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Enfermer\u00eda y Fisioterapia, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigaci\u00f3n Biom\u00e9dica de Salamanca (IBSAL)","place":["Salamanca, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vanesa","family":"Santos-Rodr\u00edguez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Enfermer\u00eda y Fisioterapia, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigaci\u00f3n Biom\u00e9dica de Salamanca (IBSAL)","place":["Salamanca, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Raquel","family":"Garc\u00eda-Santelesforo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Referencia Estatal de atenci\u00f3n a personas con enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias, Imserso","place":["Salamanca, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jes\u00fas","family":"P\u00e9rez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigaci\u00f3n Biom\u00e9dica de Salamanca (IBSAL)","place":["Salamanca, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"F\u00e1tima","family":"P\u00e9rez-Robledo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Enfermer\u00eda y Fisioterapia, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigaci\u00f3n Biom\u00e9dica de Salamanca (IBSAL)","place":["Salamanca, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Enrique","family":"P\u00e9rez-S\u00e1ez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro de Referencia Estatal de atenci\u00f3n a personas con enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias, Imserso","place":["Salamanca, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Andrea","family":"Calleja-Caballero","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departamento de Enfermer\u00eda y Fisioterapia, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigaci\u00f3n Biom\u00e9dica de Salamanca (IBSAL)","place":["Salamanca, Spain"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2418","DOI":"10.1111\/hsc.13064","article-title":"Do European co-residential caregivers aged 50+ have an increased risk of frailty?","volume":"28","author":"Barbosa","year":"2020","journal-title":"Health Soc. 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