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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Community-based group exercise improves balance and reduces falls in at-risk older people
— a randomised controlled trial | | Author(s) | Anne Barnett, Ben Smith, Stephen R Lord |
| Journal title | Age and Ageing, vol 32, no 4, July 2003 |
| Pages | pp 407-414 |
| Keywords | Exercise ; Mobility ; At risk ; Falls ; Australia. |
| Annotation | Recent studies have found that moderate intensity exercise is an effective intervention strategy for preventing falls in older people. This Australian study aimed to determine whether participation in a weekly group exercise programme with ancillary home exercises over one year improves balance, muscle strength, reaction time, physical functioning, health status and prevents fall in at-risk community-dwelling older people. The sample comprised 163 residents of Sydney aged 65+ identified as at risk from falling. Subjects were randomised into either an exercise intervention group or a control group. The intervention subjects attended a median 23 exercise classes over the year, and most undertook home exercise sessions at least weekly. At retest, the exercise group performed significantly better on three of six balance measures: postural sway on the floor with eyes open and eyes closed, and coordinated stability. The groups did not differ on measures of strength, reaction time and walking speed or on Short Form 36 (SF-36), Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, or fear of falling scales. Overall, within the 12-month period, the rate of falls in the intervention group was 40% lower than that of the control group. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-030804211 A |
| Classmark | CEA: C4: CA3: OLF: 7YA |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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