Modified Otago Exercise Program on Balance Performance

Summary

Fall is a common problem encountered by elderlies. In Hong Kong, the prevalence rate of falls among elderlies aged above 65 years old ranged from 18%-29%, standing at approximately one-fifths of the total elderly population. Falls pose huge threats to the physical and psychosocial health of the elderlies as they are often accompanied by serious injuries such as bone fracture and post-fall syndrome, decreased confidence in walking, and social exclusion.

Otago Exercise Program (OEP) was a tailor-made home-based fall prevention program of community-dwelling elderlies. It comprises of 3 main components: 5 lower limb strengthening, 12 balance retraining and walking exercises. Regarding on its effectiveness, multiple studies revealed that OEP and modified version of OEP (mOEP) brought significant improvements on perceived, static and dynamic balance, lower limb strength, quality of life and functional capacity of healthy elderlies and those with various health conditions such as chronic illnesses, osteoarthritis, stroke and hemiplegia.

The delivery method of OEP and mOEP has been limited to have elderlies following the instructions and illustrations of a printed booklet. Currently, there are only two proposed effective forms of mOEP: video-instructed and Exergames. Our study attempts to establish a new home-based exercise option incorporating mOEP with video, music and lyrics. It helps to increase the exercise motivation of elderlies, hence their physical performance.

Conditions

• Healthy Aging
• Fall

Interventions

OTHER

Modified Otago Exercise Program with music

Our study attempts to establish a new home-based exercise option incorporating mOEP with video, music and lyrics. Our new approach shares the same aims with Exergames and video-supported methods - to increase the exercise motivation of elderlies, hence their physical performance. Based on the video-supported approach in one previous study, we add in the component of music therapy. Music-based exercise interventions could produce positive outcomes on both physical, such as gait, balance and fall risk and level of physical activities and psychological, including exercise adherence, perceived exertion, thus extending exercise duration. However, exact mechanisms have not been revealed and it may be limited by personal preferences on music. In our video, the music we chose is of brisk rhythm, slightly delightful melody and higher pitch, which all help to shape a cheerful and relaxing atmosphere for the elderlies.

OTHER

Modified Otago Exercise Program

Otago Exercise Program (OEP) was developed by Otago Medical School in New Zealand as a tailor-made home-based fall prevention program to improve the balance performance of community-dwelling elderlies over 1 year. It comprises of 3 main components: 5 lower limb strengthening, 12 balance retraining and walking exercises. In the original program, the intensity was set as moderate with up to 4 difficulty levels for strengthening and balance exercises, in terms of ankle cuff weights and number of repetitions, and level of support respectively. It also stated that the frequency was at least 3 times a week for the former two exercises and at least 2 times per week for walking exercises; while the total duration was expected to make up to an hour, including 30-minute walking exercises.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Tung Wah College

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

55 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-10-27

Primary Completion

2021-12-01

Completion

2021-12-01

Countries

• Hong Kong

Study Locations