Action Seniors! Exercise to Prevent Falls

University of British Columbia344 enrolled

Overview

This study will be a randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of the Otago Exercise Program (OEP) on falls among seniors with a history of falls.

A total of 344 community-dwelling adults aged 70 years and older who are referred to a falls clinic secondary to seeking medical attention due to a fall will be randomized to either the 12-month OEP group or usual care. There will be three measurement sessions: baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

344

Conditions

Falls

Interventions

Home-based balance and strength retraining exercise program.BEHAVIORAL

A 12-month home-based balance and strength restraining program delivered by a physical therapist

control; usual careBEHAVIORAL

Usual care as prescribed by geriatrician.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 70 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adults older than or 70 years attending a Falls Prevention Clinic Service; 2. Understands, speaks, and reads English proficiently; 3. MMSE 8 score \> 24/30; 4. Had one documented non-syncopal fall in the last 12 months and one of the following: a) A Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) score of at least 1 SD above normal; OR 2) Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) performance of greater than 15 seconds; OR 3) One additional documented non-syncopal fall in the previous 12 months; 5. Expected to live greater than 12 months; 6. Community-dwelling (i.e., not residing in a nursing home, extended care unit, or assisted-care facility); 7. Able to walk 3 meters with or without an assistive device; and 8. Able to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease (e.g., Parkinson's disease); 2. Diagnosed with dementia (of any type); 3. Had a stroke; 4. Have clinically significant peripheral neuropathy or severe musculoskeletal or joint disease; or 5. Have a history indicative of carotid sinus sensitivity (i.e., syncopal falls).

Locations (1)

Aging, Mobility, and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Vancouver Falls Prevention Clinic, University of British Columbia

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Falls over a 12 month period.

Time frame: 12 months

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary outcomes of interest include: 1) physiological falls risk; 2) mobility; 3) cognitive function; and 4) economic evaluation.

Time frame: 12 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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