Improving compliance and effectiveness in Falls’ prevention, using a Dynamic Balance Training Platform. A randomized Control Trial. A feasibility study (original) (raw)
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Journal of Safety Research, 2011
Problem: Falling is a leading cause of serious injury, loss of independence, and nursing-home admission in older adults. Impaired balance control is a major contributing factor. Methods: Results from our balancecontrol studies have been applied in the development of new and improved interventions and assessment tools. Initiatives to facilitate knowledge-translation of this work include setting up a new network of balance clinics, a research-user network and a research-user advisory board. Results: Our findings support the efficacy of the developed balance-training methods, balance-enhancing footwear, neuro-prosthesis, walker design, handrail-cueing system, and handrail-design recommendations in improving specific aspects of balance control. Impact on Knowledge Users: A new balance-assessment tool has been implemented in the first new balance clinic, a new balance-enhancing insole is available through pharmacies and other commercial outlets, and handrail design recommendations have been incorporated into 10 Canadian and American building codes. Work in progress is expected to have further impact.
Clinical Interventions in Aging, 2011
To study the effectiveness of simply-performed balancing exercises in fall prevention. Design: Pre-and post-trial. Participants: Elderly with falls in the previous year. Intervention: Simple balancing exercise was performed at home every day and was recorded in the booklet. Measurements: New falling events and a battery of balancing abilities including the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), chair stand, functional reach, and Berg balance scale-short form were evaluated at baseline, 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month periods. Fear of falling and quality of life scores were assessed at baseline and 12-month periods. Results: 146 subjects were recruited, 116 female (79.5%) with a mean age of 67.1 years. At the end of the study, 49% of participants had not fallen. All of the balancing abilities were compared between frequent and infrequent fallers and were significantly improved (P , 0.001) except for functional reach in the frequent fall group. Most subjects (72%-79%) complied well with the exercise program. However, compliance had no effect on balancing abilities. About 36.4% of participants had adverse events from exercise, of which knee pain was the top ranked. The quality of life and the fall efficacy scores increased significantly at the end of the study. Factors affecting falling were compliance with exercise (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.55, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.04, 6.30) and a history of falling $3 times in the previous year (adjusted OR: 3.76, 95% CI: 1.18, 11.98). Conclusion: Performing simply-designed balancing exercises, at least 3 days per week, can increase balancing abilities, and decrease fall rates in the elderly with a history of previous falls. However, strategies to encourage elderly compliance may prevent falling.
International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 2024
Background: Inadequate muscle strength and balance impair the mobility of the elderly and increase their risk of falling. An effective sort of exercise is required to increase mobility and minimize the risk of falls in the elderly. Aims: The purpose of this study was to show that simple balance exercises (SBE) are as good as twelve balance exercises (TBE) in improving functional mobility and decreasing fall risk in the elderly. Participants and Methods: The research was a randomized control trial. The participants were 22 old people screened following inclusion and exclusion criteria and then grouped into two groups. Group 1 was administered SBE, whereas Group 2 was given TBE. Each group practiced three times each week for a total of six weeks. The timed up and go test (TUGT) is used for assessing functional mobility, while the berg balance scale (BBS) is used to assess the risk of falling. Results: Both groups showed significant increases in mean TUGT and BBS scores before and after exercise (paired sample t-test, P < 0.05). The independent t-test TUGT and BBS yielded a P > 0.05, indicating that there is no significant difference between the two groups' mean TUGT and BBS values after training. Conclusions: According to the results, SBE is equally effective as TBE in improving functional mobility and minimizing the risk of falls in elderly women.
2021
The Finnish population is rapidly aging. It is estimated that by 2050 the number of Finnish citizens over 65 years old will represent about 30% of the whole population. Aging is related to a progressive decrease in overall physiological component including muscle strength. Moreover, this loss of lower extremities strength is considered to lead to a higher risk of falls among elderly. The rate of falls, fall-related injuries, and fall-associated costs continue to increase along with the rise of the aging population. Community-based fall prevention interventions for the elderly are surging, in an attempt to address this health burden. Prevention strategies vary widely in their aim, ranging from single intervention program to comprehensive multifactorial strategies among groups of community-dwelling elderly adults. The purpose of this Bachelor thesis was to develop an evidence-based training program for elderly with focus on balance. The main research question of this thesis was “How a Multicomponent Physical Exercise Program (MPEP) can affect fall-related physical performance including balance, muscle strength and gait in older people?” The aim of this study was also to raise awareness about the existence of fall among elderly in the community of Satakunta, and the potential positive impact that physical activity can have in order to prevent these events. In addition, the whole project can function as a beneficial tool for the authors of this thesis in their future working life as physiotherapist. Seven community living residents of the Satakunta region in Finland (mean age = 68 years old) with specific fall risk factors (i.e., fear of falling, history of falls or impaired gait or balance) were assigned to a 10 weeks group exercise program (n=20). The 60-minutes exercise sessions were held twice a week, Monday and Friday from 8th of June to 17th August 2020 focused on increasing strength and balance. The outcome measurements included three physical performance tests, namely: the Timed up and Go Test, the 30 Seconds Chair Stand Test and the 4 Stage Balance Test. The aim was to assess Gait Speed, Strength and Balance among the participants. Exercisers showed postintervention improvement in measurements of gait speed by 16,1%, lower limb strength by 19,6% and static balance by 23%. The authors realized that a MPEP can affect fall-related physical performance such as strength in lower limb and balance with this sample of people. The data collected do also reinforce the notion that a MPEP is a safe and effective way to increase physiological components such muscle strength in this population. This study provided an effective, evidence-based falls prevention program that can be implemented in community settings to improve physical fitness and might reduce fall risks among this sample group
Journal of aging and health, 2012
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of a fall prevention program offered under real-world conditions on balance maintenance several months after the program. To explore the program's impact on falls. METHOD: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among community-dwelling seniors, with pre- and postintervention measures of balance performance and self-reported falls. Ten community-based organizations offered the intervention (98 participants) and 7 recruited participants to the study's control arm (102 participants). An earlier study examined balance immediately after the 12-week program. The present study focuses on the 12-month effect. Linear regression (balance) and negative binomial regression (falls) procedures were performed. RESULTS: During the 12-month study period, experimental participants improved and maintained their balance as reflected by their scores on three performance tests. There was no evidence of an effect on falls. DISCUSSION: Structured group exercise ...
The Effectiveness of Balance Exercise on Reducing Risk of Fall in Older People
2018
Background: The risk of fall in the elderly can be treated by improving the balance of the body and muscle strength of the lower extremities. Balance exercise includes plantar, hip and knee flexion, hip extension and side leg raise. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of balance exercise to reduce the risk of fall in older people. Methods: This study was conducted using queasy experimental design with one group pre-post-test. The total sample included in this study was 17 participant that selected using total sampling techniques based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were analyzed using student t-test. Results: The study found a significant effect of balance exercise to reduce the risk of fall in older people (p=0.000). Mean different for risk of fall before and after the intervention was 42.53 and 50.06, respectively. Conclusions: Balance exercise can reduce the risk of fall among older people. This intervention can be applied by a nurse or social worker in a nursing home to prevent fall in older people.
Journal of orthopaedic science : official journal of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, 2013
Maintaining or improving motor (balance) ability is essential to extending the healthy lifespan of elderly people, and developing effective and efficient strategies to prevent falls of elderly people is an urgent. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of balance exercise on fall and fracture prevention for elderly people with poor balance. A 6-month, randomized controlled trial was conducted to verify whether one-leg standing with eyes open for a total of 1 min, three times a day (dynamic flamingo exercise) prevents falls and fractures. Setting and participants were elderly people ≥75 years of age and one-leg standing time ≤15.0 s living in their own home. They were visiting orthopaedic clinics for orthopaedic handicaps. Subjects with poor balance were allowed to hold on to something. If a subject's lifted leg touched the ground during the exercise, they were allowed to lift it again and continue so that they stood on one leg for a total of 60 s. The dynamic fla...
2013
Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The purpose of the study was to determine the sample size that would allow broad generalizability of the results. To investigate the differences in the responsiveness of fallers and nonfallers to amulticomponent functional balance specific program, 23 participating subjects (70.1 ± 6.6 years) were divided into nonfallers group (13) and fallers group (10). The components of the balance specific program were (1) changing of the center of gravity (CoG) in the vertical direction, (2) shifting of the CoG to the border of stability, (3) rotation of the head and body about the vertical axis, (4) standing and walking on soft surface, and (5) walking over obstacles or on a narrow path. At the end of eight months of the training program, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding postural sway. The total cen...
Do fallers and nonfallers equally benefit from balance specific exercise program? A pilot study
BioMed research international, 2013
The purpose of the study was to determine the sample size that would allow broad generalizability of the results. To investigate the differences in the responsiveness of fallers and nonfallers to a multicomponent functional balance specific program, 23 participating subjects (70.1 ± 6.6 years) were divided into nonfallers group (13) and fallers group (10). The components of the balance specific program were (1) changing of the center of gravity (CoG) in the vertical direction, (2) shifting of the CoG to the border of stability, (3) rotation of the head and body about the vertical axis, (4) standing and walking on soft surface, and (5) walking over obstacles or on a narrow path. At the end of eight months of the training program, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding postural sway. The total center of pressure path length was used as the principal outcome measure for the sample size calculation. Based on these results the a priori sample size calculatio...