There is righteous evidence that e...

There is righteous evidence that exercise can modify risk factors for falls and obstruct them. However, not all adumbrations of exercise appear to be beneficial. Programs that include a balance composing are more effective than programs using resistance, endurance, and flexibility training. subject of attention results that showed no benefit or minimal benefit might have targeted a population with a soft baseline risk for falls. In this subject of attention Lord and colleagues targeted a cluster at higher risk for falls--elderly human frames living in retirement villages--using a weight-bearing exercise program.

Residents 62 to 95 years of age were included in the inquiry Of 551 participants, 280 were randomized to the group-exercise intervention. The exercise classes were demeanored twice weekly for 12 month and were designed to address impaired power gait, coordination, balance, and spe and to improve the patient's ability to undertake activities of daily living. single control group took part in a flexibility and relaxation program, and another curb group did not take part in any cluster activity. Questionnaires were given to residents each month. In addition, a nurse's work recorded witnessed falls or falls that be the effected in a visit to the nurse's station. pair functional measures related to stepping and mobility requirements for activities of daily living were primary issue measures. Secondary outcome measures assessed spe power and balance.

Of the 508 enthralls available for analysis, 75 percent complet questionnaires. Combined data from questionnaires and other reporting rules indicated that there were 385 falls, with 282 residents (555 percent) not ever falling, 132 (26.0 percent) falling formerly and 94 (18.5 percent) falling at least twice. During the inquiry period, there were 22 percent fewer falls in the exercise assign places to than in the control disposes There were significantly fewer falls in patients who had fallen in the past year yet no difference in patients who had not fallen in the year before the investigation The difference in fall rate between the couple control groups was not significant.

Baseline scores were similar between intervention and sway groups; however, the control collections performed better in choice stepping reaction time and six-minute walking distance. At retest the exercise collection performed significantly better than the bridle groups in these two measures. They also performed better in a certain quantity of but not all, of the secondary issue measures.

The findings hint that a specifically designed program of collection exercise can prevent falls and maintain physical function in frail older population particularly in those who have had previous falls. The fall reduction in this research (22 percent) is lower than the reduction in studies with multiple interventions, further those studies cannot identify the specific constituents that contribute to fall reduction. Although sole one half of eligible participants attended exercise classes, these be deriveds show that exercise can preclude falls and maintain physical function.

CAROLINE WELLBERY, MD

Lord SR et al. The tenor of group exercise on physical functioning and falls in frail older persons living in retirement villages: a randomized, controll trial. J Am Geriatr Soc December 2003;51:1685-92

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