WEDNESDAY, Aug. 8 (HealthDay News) -- For older adults at risk of falls, the integration of balance and strength training into routine daily activities correlates with a reduced rate of falls, according to a study published online Aug. 7 in BMJ.
Lindy Cemson, Ph.D., from the University of Sydney in Lidcombe, Australia, and colleagues conducted a three-arm randomized parallel trial to examine whether a lifestyle-integrated approach to balance and strength training would reduce the rate of falls for older, high-risk individuals living at home. Participants (aged 70 years or older) were assigned to either a lifestyle-integrated functional exercise (LiFE) approach (107 participants; taught principles of balance and strength training and integrated selected activities into everyday routines); a structured program of exercise (105 participants); or a sham control program comprising gentle exercise (105 participants). Participants were assessed at baseline and after six and 12 months.
After 12 months of follow-up the researchers identified 172 falls in the LiFE group, 193 in the structured-exercise group, and 224 in the control group, for an overall incidence of 1.66, 1.90, and 2.28 falls per-person, respectively. The rate of falls was reduced by 31 percent in the LiFE program versus controls, while the difference between the LiFE group and the structured-exercise group was not significant. Compared with controls, participants in the LiFE group had significantly better static balance on an eight-level hierarchical scale, ankle strength, function, and participation. For dynamic balance there was a significant and moderate improvement in the LiFE and structured-exercise groups, respectively, compared with controls.
"The LiFE program provides an additional choice to traditional exercise and another fall prevention program that could work for some people," the authors write.
Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
