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A home exercise program has reduced by 36% the subsequent falls of high-risk seniors, according to the results of a 12-month clinical trial released today in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine in partnership with the clinical team at the Vancouver General Hospital Falls Prevention Clinic, revealed a reduction in the rate of fall and a slight improvement in cognitive function in older people benefiting from training in strength and balance. trial.
"When we think of falls, we often think of the loss of muscle strength and poor balance," said Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Principal Investigator at the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and a professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at the University of Ottawa. University of British Columbia. . "However, the ability to stay upright and not fall also depends on your cognitive abilities: calculating how far to get up to cross a sidewalk, deciding when to cross the road and paying attention to your physical environment while you have a conversation. "
Falls increase the risk of injury and loss of independence in the elderly. Exercise is a widely recommended fall prevention strategy, but it is not yet known whether it is possible to reduce subsequent falls in those who have already fallen
The study involved 344 adults aged 70 and older, who had been referred to the Falls Prevention Clinic as a result of a fall that resulted in a visit to a medical facility, such as a "medical clinic". an emergency room. Participants had a history of falls, with an average of three previous falls per person, and generally had symptoms of frailty and limited mobility.
The study asked participants to perform a series of balance and strength training in the comfort of their own home, using simple equipment, such as free weights, at least three times a week. During the six months, a physiotherapist made five home visits to prescribe exercises and to ensure that they were performed properly. For those who completed the program, the results were remarkable. Participants were less likely to experience repeated falls and, as a side benefit, they improved some markers of cognitive function.
Falls in the elderly are the third leading cause of chronic disability. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 20 to 30% of Canadian seniors experience falls each year, and falls are the leading cause of hospitalization for adults over 65 years of age.
"It is well known that exercise benefits older adults in general, but one of the particularities of this study group is that they run a very high risk of losing their independence – they both have motor impairments. and cognitive, and another fall could mean their inability to Liu-Ambrose, Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity, Mobility and Cognitive Neuroscience, says Liu-Ambrose.
"Seniors who experience falls that require medical care are medically complex and have a high risk of morbidity and mortality, and we have demonstrated that exercise is a practical and cost-effective intervention that can improve outcomes. elderly people after a big fall, "she added.
Liu-Ambrose and her team at the Center for Hip Health and Mobility are now looking into whether the exercise program has resulted in a reduction in the use of health care and a reduction in medical costs in this high-risk population.
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