%0 Journal Article
%T Reducing fall risk with combined motor and cognitive training in elderly fallers
%J Brain sciences
%D 2017
%A Barban, Francesco
%A Annicchiarico, Roberta
%A Melideo, Matteo
%A Federici, Alessia
%A Lombardi, Maria Giovanna
%A Giuli, Simone
%A Ricci, Claudia
%A Adriano, Fulvia
%A Griffini, Ivo
%A Silvestri, Manuel
%A Chiusso, Massimo
%A Neglia, Sergio
%A Ariño-Blasco, Sergio
%A Cuevas Perez, Raquel
%A Dionyssiotis, Yannis
%A Koumanakos, Georgios
%A Kovačeić, Milo
%A Montero-Fernández, Nuria
%A Pino, Oscar
%A Boye, Niels
%A Cortés, Ulises
%A Barrué, Cristian
%A Cortés, Atia
%A Levene, Peter
%A Pantelopoulos, Stelios
%A Rosso, Roberto
%A Serra-Rexach, José Antonio
%A Sabatini, Angelo Maria
%A Caltagirone, Carlo
%V 7
%N 2
%P e7020019-e7020019
%X BACKGROUND: Falling is a major clinical problem in elderly people, demanding effective solutions. At present, the only effective intervention is motor training of balance and strength. Executive function-based training (EFt) might be effective at preventing falls according to evidence showing a relationship between executive functions and gait abnormalities. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of a motor and a cognitive treatment developed within the EU co-funded project I-DONT-FALL. <br><br>METHODS: In a sample of 481 elderly people at risk of falls recruited in this multicenter randomised controlled trial, the effectiveness of a motor treatment (pure motor or mixed with EFt) of 24 one-hour sessions delivered through an i-Walker with a non-motor treatment (pure EFt or control condition) was evaluated. Similarly, a 24 one-hour session cognitive treatment (pure EFt or mixed with motor training), delivered through a touch-screen computer was compared with a non-cognitive treatment (pure motor or control condition). <br><br>RESULTS: Motor treatment, particularly when mixed with EFt, reduced significantly fear of falling (F(1,478) = 6.786, p = 0.009) although to a limited extent (ES -0.25) restricted to the period after intervention. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the effectiveness of motor treatment empowered by EFt in reducing fear of falling.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Switzerland Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI) AG
%@ 2076-3425
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/brainsci7020019