Accidental Falls
Conditions
Keywords
Accidental Falls, Risk Factors, Postural Balance, Muscle Strength, Resistance Training Gait, Exercise
Brief summary
This trial evaluates the effectiveness of the Otago Exercise Program in adults aged 65 and older. It compares supervised group-based training with an unsupervised home-based version of the same program. The primary aim is to assess changes in Timed Up and Go performance and gait speed before and after the intervention.
Detailed description
This study investigates the effectiveness of the Otago Exercise Program (OEP) as a fall-prevention intervention in adults aged 65 years and older. The OEP is a structured, evidence-based program that includes strength, balance, and functional training exercises designed to reduce fall risk in older adults. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The experimental group will complete the Otago program in supervised group sessions led by a physiotherapist. The control group will perform the same Otago exercises individually at home without supervision, following standard instructions for independent implementation. The primary objective of the study is to compare the effect of the supervised group-based program versus the unsupervised home-based program on functional mobility and gait performance. Primary outcomes include changes in the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and gait speed measured before and after the intervention period. This trial aims to determine whether supervised group training provides additional benefits over independent home-based execution of the Otago program in improving mobility and reducing fall risk among community-dwelling older adults.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALOtago Exercise Program - Supervised Group
Participants perform the Otago Exercise Program in supervised group sessions led by a physiotherapist. The program includes structured strength, balance, and functional exercises conducted 2-3 times per week throughout the intervention period.
BEHAVIORALOtago Exercise Program - Home-Based
Participants perform the same Otago Exercise Program independently at home, following standard written instructions. Exercises include strength, balance, and functional components, performed 2-3 times per week without supervision.
Sponsors
Sanidad de Castilla y León
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)
Masking description
Outcome assessors are blinded to group assignment. Participants and intervention supervisors are aware of the assigned intervention, but the evaluators measuring functional outcomes, including the Timed Up and Go test and gait speed, do not know which group participants belong to.
Intervention model description
Participants are randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups. The experimental group performs the Otago Exercise Program in supervised group sessions led by a physiotherapist, while the control group performs the same program independently at home. Each participant remains in their assigned group for the entire duration of the intervention.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Adults aged 65 years or older. * Community-dwelling individuals able to ambulate independently (with or without assistive devices). * Ability to understand instructions and follow the exercise program. * Able to attend assessment sessions at baseline and post-intervention.
Exclusion criteria
* Severe cognitive impairment that limits ability to follow instructions. * Medical conditions contraindicating exercise (e.g., unstable cardiac disease, uncontrolled hypertension). * Recent lower-limb fracture or surgery within the last 6 months. * Neurological conditions significantly affecting gait or balance (e.g., advanced Parkinson's disease, recent stroke). * Participation in another structured exercise or fall-prevention program during the study period.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Timed Up and Go (TUG) | Baseline and immediately after the intervention period (3 months) | Functional mobility is assessed using the Timed Up and Go test. Participants rise from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn, walk back, and sit down. The time to complete the task is recorded in seconds. |
| Gait Speed | Baseline and immediately after the intervention period (3 months) | Walking speed is measured over a standardized distance (6 meters). The participant walks at a comfortable pace, and the time to complete the distance is recorded to calculate gait speed in meters per second. |
Countries
Spain
Outcome results
None listed