Multicomponent Versus Balance Exercise for Older Adults With Recurrent Falls

Balikesir University60 enrolled

Overview

To compare the short-term effects and 6-month durability of supervised multicomponent exercise, balance exercise alone, and fall-prevention education on balance, strength, walking performance, and health-related quality of life in older adults with recurrent falls.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Accidental Falls Recurrent Falls

Interventions

Multicomponent exerciseBEHAVIORAL

Supervised balance-coordination exercises and lower-extremity strengthening using elastic bands (quadriceps, hamstrings, hip abductors, hip adductors) and mini-squats.

Balance exerciseBEHAVIORAL

Supervised balance-coordination tasks, warm-up, and stretching

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 65 YearsMax age: 100 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 65 years or older, * more than two falls during the preceding year, * unimpaired Timed Up and Go performance, * Beck Depression Inventory score consistent with safe participation Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindication to exercise, * fracture, * cancer, * active joint disease or infection, * pulmonary disease, * uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or hypertension, * congestive heart failure, or * serious neurological disease.

Locations (1)

Balikesir University Faculty of Medicine Hospital

Balıkesir, Balıkesir, Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Functional balance assessed by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

A 14-item performance-based measure used to evaluate static and dynamic balance capacity. The total score ranges from 0 to 56, where higher scores indicate better functional balance and lower fall risk.

Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks (immediately post-treatment), and 6 months (follow-up)

Secondary Outcomes

Maximal handgrip strength measured using a hand dynamometer

Isometric handgrip strength of the dominant/stronger hand measured in kilograms (kg) using a Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer. Higher values indicate greater muscle strength.

Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks (post-treatment), and 6 months (follow-up)

Gait speed assessed by the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT)

Walking time recorded in seconds (s) over the middle 10 meters of a 14-meter walkway at comfortable walking speed. Lower time values (fewer seconds) indicate faster gait speed and improved mobility.

Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks (post-treatment), and 6 months (follow-up)

Health-related quality of life assessed by the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36)

Health-related quality of life evaluated across 8 domains, with transformed subscale and summary scores ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better health status and higher quality of life.

Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks (post-treatment), and 6 months (follow-up)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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