None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Falls are a significant cause of injury and death in the population aged over 65 years. Following a fall, people often report they have become fearful that they will fall again and restrict their activities in order to try to reduce their perceived risk. As a result, a previously active person may become housebound or restrict outdoor activities to essential chores, such as General Practitioner visits. Such behaviour does not necessarily reduce the risk of another serious fall and can lead to the person becoming depressed, frailer and having a much higher likelihood of being admitted to residential care. Recent research has shown that exercise is an effective way to reduce participants’ risk of falls and also to keep people on their feet and doing the activities which they enjoy. There is uncertainty about the exact nature that the exercise component should take. Many programmes use a combination of balance and strength-based exercises to train for better balance. However new research has suggested that training on variable surfaces may be a better way to develop balance skills and reduce the risk of falls. To test this idea, this study will assign participants to two different exercise groups. Participants will attend weekly one hour sessions of the exercise group to which they have been randomly assigned for eight weeks. Measurements of balance, level of falls risk, fear of falling and actual number of falls experienced will be taken prior to commencing the programme and at the end of the eight week course. Researchers will then be able to examine whether the novel exercise regimen is more effective than the traditional form of exercises for reducing falls and fear of falls, and improving balance capacity. Treatment of falls-related injuries such as a broken hip is costly not only to the health service but also to the affected person, so any preventative strategy that enables at-risk individuals to develop higher levels of balance within an eight week period will be welcomed by clients, clinicians and service providers alike.
Interventions
Low friction based exercise in combination with a home exercise programme: use of BedEx exercise mats which consist of mats which have 2 levels of friction on either side of the mats. Using the mats on the high friction sides creates a high level of stability and using the mats with the low friction sides together gives a lower level of stability. Exercises will be commenced in sitting and progressed to standing, reaching, stepping and walking exercises as the participants become familiar with t
Low friction based exercise in combination with a home exercise programme: use of BedEx exercise mats which consist of mats which have 2 levels of friction on either side of the mats. Using the mats on the high friction sides creates a high level of stability and using the mats with the low friction sides together gives a lower level of stability. Exercises will be commenced in sitting and progressed to standing, reaching, stepping and walking exercises as the participants become familiar with the exercises and as their level of skill allows. The home exercise programme will consist of sitting, standing, stepping, reaching and walking activities. Participants will be asked to complete it 3 times per week. This will be completed concurrently with the 8 week trial.
Sponsors
Claire Connolly
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
Aged 65 years or over; Have had at least one fall in the previous year; Live independently in the community (own home, retirement village, low-care hostel); Can mobilise independently with or without a walking aid (stick or walking frame); Speak and understand written and spoken English
Exclusion criteria
Under age 65; Nil falls in previous years; Live in nursing home; Wheelchair dependent or require another person's assistance to walk; Unable to understand written or spoken English; Live too far from the centre to guarantee regular attendance; Have the following medical conditions: dementia, unstable angina/chest pain, uncontrolled blood pressure (high or low), severe pain, diabetes with hypo or hyperglycaemic episdodes, neurological disorder - Parkinson’s disease, stroke, neuropathy or uncontrolled epilepsy, significant visual impairment
Outcome results
None listed