Effects of risk-based multifactorial fall prevention on postural balance in the community-dwelling aged: A randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 22 - 27
• Main Authors: Salminen, Marika, Vahlberg, Tero, Sihvonen, Sanna, Sjösten, Noora, Piirtola, Maarit, Isoaho, Raimo, Aarnio, Pertti, Kivelä, Sirkka-Liisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01-01-2009
• Subjects: Accidental Falls - prevention & control; Accidental Falls - statistics & numerical data; Aged; Community living; Community-Based Participatory Research - methods; Elderly people; Exercise Therapy - methods; Falls; Female; Finland - epidemiology; Follow-Up Studies; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Humans; Incidence; Internal Medicine; Male; Multifactorial fall prevention; Patient Education as Topic - methods; Postural Balance - physiology; Postural balance measures; Postural control; Posture; Preventive programmes; Psychometrics - methods; Randomized controlled trials; Risk Assessment - methods; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Finland; Postural control; Multifactorial fall prevention; Postural balance measures
• ISSN: 0167-4943; 1872-6976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2007.09.006

Abstract The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of 12-month risk-based multifactorial fall prevention program on postural control of the aged. Five hundred and ninety-one (97%) eligible subjects were randomized into an intervention group (IG) ( n = 293) and a control group (CG) ( n = 298). The effects of the program were measured on standing, dynamic, and functional balance. In standing balance, the velocity moment of semi-tandem standing decreased in IG (median change −0.54 mm2 /s) but increased in CG (+3.84 mm2 /s) among all women ( p = 0.011) and among the women aged 65–74 years (−1.65 mm2 /s and +2.80 mm2 /s, correspondingly) ( p = 0.008). In a dynamic test, performance distance tended to decrease in IG (−26.54 mm) and increase in CG (+34.10 mm) among all women ( p = 0.060). The women aged 75 years or over, showed marginally significant differences between the groups as regards changes in performance time (−2.66 s and −0.90 s) ( p = 0.068) and distance (−92.32 mm and +76.46 mm) ( p = 0.062) of the dynamic balance test in favor of IG. Men showed no significant differences in the changes between the groups in any balance measures.