A comparison of outcomes associated with adding a home-based exercise program via two home visits, to a group exercise program and home exercise program for clients attending outpatient rehabilitation with balance deficits.

The intervention group received usual care (see in control treatment) and two home visits to individually tailor a home exercise program which was provided and shown to them at their home. They received a visit from a physiotherapist who was not involved in delivering any of the exercise groups. The physiotherapist chose suitable exercises from a subset of the Otago Balance Program (Campbell et al, 1997) based on the participant’s assessment results. Exercises included things such as sit to stand, 1/4 squats, calf rasies, toe raises, sideways walking, leg curl, standing hip abduction, single leg stand, walking, walking and turning around, heel/toe standing, heel/toe walking, heel walking, toe walking and stair walking. The initial home visit was conducted the week before or after commencing usual care, and was followed by a visit between weeks four and five of the intervention to continue to motivate the participant, encourage adherence with the home exercise program, and to follow up and progress the home exercise program as necessary. Participants were shown the exercise in their home environment, received a written copy of their exercises, and were asked to complete an exercise diary each day to record which exercises were completed. They were asked to complete exercises for between 30 mins to 1 hour per day from the time of the first home visit until the 3 month follow-up asessment. Home visit were approximately 1 hour in duration.