None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
There is evidence that suggest exercise can reduce the risk of falls and its associated injuries for the older population living in the community. Clients who are at risk or have a history of falls may be referred to the High Level Balance Group in the community rehabilitation program at Eastern Health, where the exercises are designed to strengthen and build standing endurance to improve an individual’s balance. The other exercise class offered is the Running Re-education Group; patients participate in challenging tasks which demand balance and speed. This trial aims to find out whether running re-education group is more effective in reducing falls in the elderly living in the community.
Interventions
The two interventions involved in this study are the High Level Balance group and the Running Re-education group.
Running re-education focuses on dynamic balance with an emphasis on quick movement and reaction in response to a perturbation. It is not the intention of the group for patients to return to running. It is called “Running” since all the components of its exercises involve a biomechanical element of running.
The High Level Balance Group is designed to provide an environment to facili
The two interventions involved in this study are the High Level Balance group and the Running Re-education group. Running re-education focuses on dynamic balance with an emphasis on quick movement and reaction in response to a perturbation. It is not the intention of the group for patients to return to running. It is called “Running” since all the components of its exercises involve a biomechanical element of running. The High Level Balance Group is designed to provide an environment to facilitate measurable improvement in dynamic balance and offer strength training through functional activities. The program contains both aerobic and strengthening exercises performed at moderate intensity. Progression will be made accordingly to the participant’s capability Patients in either group participate in a 60 min session, twice a week for 6 weeks. Both groups involve a series of rehabilitation exercises all supervised by a physiotherapist and an allied health assistant. A record sheet will be utilized in each session to document a patient's completion of an exercise component. Both interventions will receive educational components encompassing, nursing, podiatry, occupational therapy, dietetics, physiotherapy and pharmacy.
Sponsors
Eastern Health
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Participants will be invited to participate provided they fulfill the following inclusion criteria: Adult aged over 65 years referred to Community Rehabilitation Program at Peter James Centre with a history of one or more falls in the twelve months prior to being referred. A fall will be defined as “an unexpected event in which the participant comes to rest on the ground, floor, or lower level” (Lamb et al., 2005). This will be asked of the participants using the recommended wording: In the past twelve months, “have you had any fall including a slip or a trip in which you lost your balance and landed on the floor or ground or lower level in the?” (Lamb et al., 2005). Able to understand Basic English. This criterion will be passed if potential participants are able to read and understand the information and consent form. This understanding will be demonstrated to recruiters through patients verbally explaining their understanding of the risks and benefits of their participation in the study. Participants must be cognitively able to give informed consent and/or follow instructions. This will be guided by clinical judgment.
Exclusion criteria
Participants will be excluded if they: Live in supported accommodation (either low level or high level care). Require assistance of another person for transferring or walking. Are receiving individual physiotherapy while concurrently in a group program to enable any group differences to be assigned to the interventions with more confidence.
Outcome results
None listed