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A randomised controlled trial of fall prevention by a high-intensity functional exercise program for older people in residential care facilities
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6955-1706
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy.
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy.
Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine. Umeå University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy.
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2008 (English)In: Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, ISSN 1594-0667, E-ISSN 1720-8319, Vol. 20, no 1, p. 67-75Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Falls are particularly common among older people living in residential care facilities. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a high-intensity functional exercise program in reducing falls in residential care facilities.

METHODS: Participants comprised 191 older people, 139 women and 52 men, who were dependent in activities of daily living. Their mean+/-SD score on the Mini-Mental State Examination was 17.8+/-5.1 (range 10-30). Participants were randomized to a high-intensity functional exercise program or a control activity, consisting of 29 sessions over 3 months. The fall rate and proportion of participants sustaining a fall were the outcome measures, subsequently analysed using negative binominal analysis and logistic regression analysis, respectively.

RESULTS: During the 6-month follow-up period, when all participants were compared, no statistically significant differences between groups were found for fall rate (exercise group 3.6 falls per person years [PY], control group 4.6 falls per PY), incidence rate ratio (95% CI) 0.82 (0.49-1.39), p=0.46, or the proportion of participants sustaining a fall (exercise 53%, control 51%), odds ratio (95% CI) 0.95 (0.52-1.74), p=0.86. A subgroup interaction analysis revealed that, among participants who improved their balance during the intervention period, the exercise group had a lower fall rate than the control group (exercise 2.7 falls per PY, control 5.9 falls per PY), incidence rate ratio (95% CI) 0.44 (0.21-0.91), p=0.03.

CONCLUSIONS: In older people living in residential care facilities, a high-intensity functional exercise program may prevent falls among those who improve their balance.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Milan: Editrice Kurtis SRL , 2008. Vol. 20, no 1, p. 67-75
Keywords [en]
Accidental falls, aged, exercise, frail elderly, randomized controlled trials, residential facilities
National Category
Geriatrics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-5075DOI: 10.1007/BF03324750ISI: 000253726700011PubMedID: 18283231Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-40849097825OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-5075DiVA, id: diva2:144439
Available from: 2006-04-18 Created: 2006-04-18 Last updated: 2024-07-02Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Fall prediction and a high-intensity functional exercise programme to improve physical functions and to prevent falls among older people living in residential care facilities
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Fall prediction and a high-intensity functional exercise programme to improve physical functions and to prevent falls among older people living in residential care facilities
2006 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Impairments in balance, mobility, and lower-limb strength are common in the growing population of older people and can lead to dramatic consequences for the individual, such as dependency in activities of daily living, admission to nursing home, falls, and fractures. The main purposes of this thesis were, among older people in residential care facilities, to validate a fall-risk assessment tool and to evaluate a high-intensity functional weight-bearing exercise pro-gramme regarding its applicability as well as its effect on physical functions and falls.

The prediction accuracy of the Downton fall risk index within 3, 6 and 12 months was evaluated among 78 residents, aged 65 years or more, at one residential care facility. The participants were assessed as having either a low or high fall risk according to the index and were followed-up for falls using two different fall definitions related to the cause of the fall. With all falls included, a significant prognostic separation was found between the low- and the high-risk group at 3, 6 and 12 months. A definition in which falls precipitated by acute illness, acute disease, or drug side-effects were excluded did not improve the accuracy of the fall prediction.

The effect on physical functions of a high-intensity functional exercise programme was evaluated in a randomised controlled trial among 191 older people, dependent in activities of daily living, with a Mini-Mental State Examination score of ten or more, and living in nine residential care facilities. Participants were randomised to an exercise programme or a control activity, including 29 supervised sessions over 3 months, as well as to an intake of a milk-based 200 ml protein-enriched energy supplement (7.4 g protein per 100 g) or a placebo drink immediately after each session. The Berg Balance Scale, usual and maximum gait speed, and one-repetition maximum in lower-limb strength in a leg press machine were followed up at 3 and 6 months by blinded assessors and analysed using the intention-to-treat principle. Significant long-term effects of the high-intensity functional exercise programme were seen in balance, gait ability and lower-limb strength in comparison with the control activity. The intake of the protein-enriched energy supplement did not increase the effect of the training.

The evaluation of the applicability of the exercise programme showed that there was a high rate of attendance, a relatively high achieved intensity in the exercises, and only two serious adverse events, neither of which led to manifest injury or disease, despite that most of the participants had severe cognitive or physical impairments. The applicability of the programme was not associated with the participants’ cognitive function.

The evaluation of the fall-prevention effect of the exercise programme, during the 6 months following the intervention, showed that neither fall rate nor proportion of participants who sustained a fall differed between the exercise programme and the control activity, when all participants were compared. However, among participants who improved their balance during the intervention period, a significant reduction in fall rate was seen in favour of the exercise group.

In conclusion, among older people living in residential care facilities, the Downton fall risk index appears to be a useful tool for predicting residents sustaining a fall, irrespective of the cause of the fall, even with a perspective of only a few months. A high-intensity functional exercise programme is applicable for use, regardless of cognitive function, and has positive long-term effects on balance, gait ability, and lower-limb strength. An intake of a protein-enriched energy supplement immediately after the exercise does not appear to increase the effect of the training. Participants who improve their balance function due to the exercise programme may reduce their risk of falling.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Umeå: Samhällsmedicin och rehabilitering, 2006. p. 79
Series
Umeå University medical dissertations, ISSN 0346-6612 ; 1024
Keywords
aged, frail elderly, cognition disorders, residential facilities, randomized controlled trials, exercise, exercise therapy, nutrition, predictive value of tests, accidental falls: prevention & control
National Category
Physiotherapy
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-756 (URN)91-7264-072-3 (ISBN)
Public defence
2006-05-05, Aulan, Vårdvetarhuset, Umeå Universitet, Umeå, 09:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2006-04-18 Created: 2006-04-18 Last updated: 2010-01-18Bibliographically approved

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Rosendahl, ErikGustafson, YngveNordin, EllinorLundin-Olsson, Lillemor

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