None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
A randomised control trial will be conducted to determine whether participation in a supervised weekly group exercise program with ancillary home exercises reduces falls risk in elderly persons living in rural communities. The risk factors to be investigated include balance, muscle strength and reaction time. Quality of life and health status will also be compared between the groups.
Interventions
Participants in the intervention group will be asked to attend one exercise class per week (60 minute session) and perform an ancillary home exercise program over a fourteen week period. Participants in both the intervention and control group will receive an education booklet on falls prevention strategies.
Sponsors
The Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Newcastle
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Living independently in the community or in residential care accommodation.
Exclusion criteria
Cognitive impairment: a moderate to severe organic brain impairment Insufficient English language: to participate safely in the exercise program. Unable to walk 10 metres: without rest or help (walking aid permitted) Progressive neurological disease (eg Parkinson’s disease), Medical condition precluding exercise e.g. unstable ischaemic heart disease, recent electrocardiographic changes or cardiac event, uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia eg Ventricular tachycardia (VT) requiring implantable defibrillator or unpaced complete heart block, NYHA class 3 and 4 symptomatic heart failure, or use of a ventricular assist device, severe valvular heart disease assessed clinically by medical staff, uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled metabolic diseases, large abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Outcome results
None listed