Citation

Karinkanta S, Nupponen R, Heinonen A, Pasanen M, Sievänen H, Uusi-Rasi K, Fogelholm M, Kannus P. J. Aging Phys. Act. 2012; 20(2): 198-214.

Affiliation

The UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland, and the Research Unit, Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Tampere, Finland.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Human Kinetics Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

22015703

Abstract

This randomized, controlled trial evaluated the effects of exercise on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and fear of falling (FoF) among 149 home-dwelling older women. The 12-month exercise programme was intended to reduce risk for falls and fractures. HRQoL was assessed by RAND-36 Survey, and FoF by Visual Analogue Scale, at baseline, 12- and 24-month. On all RAND-36 scales, the scores accumulated at the values indicating better health and wellbeing. The exercise had hardly any effect on HRQoL; only General Health -score improved slightly compared with controls at 12-month (p=.019), but this gain was lost at 24-month. FoF decreased in both groups during the intervention with no between-group difference at 12- or 24-month. In conclusion, despite beneficial physiological changes, the exercise intervention showed rather limited effects on HRQoL and FoF among relatively high-functioning older women. This modest result may be partly due to insufficient responsiveness of the assessment instruments used.

Language: en