Effectiveness of Impairment Specific Exercises for Balance and Fall Risk in Community-Living Older Adults at Risk: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Summary

Background Balance impairment is a key factor contributing to falls in older adults. Conceptually, clinicians may be able to prescribe targeted exercises if specific impairments can be identified. Objective Our objective was to use a model of balance subsystems to identify balance impairments and demonstrate the effectiveness of targeted (matched) exercises to improve balance and reduce fall risk in community-dwelling older adults. The investigators used the Balance Evaluation System Test (BESTest) as the model because it categorizes balance into 6 subsystems. Design Randomized, partially blinded, pretest-post-test clinical trial consisting of 2 Phases: 1. A comparison between impairment-matched exercises and a control, and 2. A comparison between impairment-matched and mismatched exercises. Setting Senior independent living community. Participants Adult volunteers (n = 40; aged 74-94) recruited as sample of convenience who met the criteria. Participants (n = 20) identified with impairment in the biomechanical (BC) constraints subsystem and participants (n = 20) with impairment in anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) subsystem were enrolled and randomized into 2 subgroups (matched and control/delayed mismatched; n = 10 each subgroup). Intervention Phase 1: Participants in the matched subgroup received a 6-week exercise program matched to their impaired subsystem while the mismatched subgroup served as control. Phase 2: Following the delay, participants in the mismatched group received a 6-week exercise program mismatched to their impairment. Measurements Primary outcome variables were scores on the targeted subsystem (BC, APA), BESTest total, Berg Balance Scale, and fear of falling measure. Quality of life was a secondary outcome. Outcome data were collected by the tester blind to pretest scores and group allocation. Results The matched exercise subgroups demonstrated both statistical and clinical improvement in all outcome variables compared to the control; and showed greater improvement in balance impairments compared to the mismatched subgroup, but not in fall risk reduction. Limitations The therapist who administered the pretest knew the subgroup assignment and implemented the exercises. Conclusions Results provide preliminary evidence that using a balance assessment model to identify impairments in the BC and APA subsystems and prescribing targeted exercises reduces these balance impairments for older adults and may warrant future studies.

Conditions

• Balance, Postural
• Exercise Therapy

Interventions

OTHER

Matched: Targeted (specific) balance exercise interventions

OTHER

Mismatched: Untargeted (non-specific) balance exercise interventions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Drexel University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Susan S Smith, PT, PhD · Drexel University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

65 Years

Max Age

99 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2013-11-30

Primary Completion

2015-02-28

Completion

2015-02-28

Countries

• United States

Study Locations