TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2004//
TI  - Fall incidence in frail older women after individualized visual feedback-based balance training
JO  - Gerontology
A1  - Era, P.
A1  - Taskinen, S.
A1  - Sipilä, Sarianna
A1  - Sihvonen, Sanna
A1  - Sihvonen, Sanna
SP  - 411
EP  - 416
VL  - 50
IS  - 6
N2  - Background: The knowledge concerning balance training actually lowering fall rates among frail older persons is limited. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a 4-week individualized visual feedback-based balance training on the fall incidence during 1-year follow-up among frail older women living in residential care. Methods: Twenty-seven older women from 2 residential care homes were randomized into exercise (n = 20) and control (n = 7) groups. Balance measurements were carried out before and after a 4-week training period and falls were monitored by monthly diaries for 1 year. An interview about fear of falling and physical activity was completed before and after the intervention and after the 1-year follow-up. Results: A positive effect of balance training on fall incidence was found. A dynamic Poisson regression model showed that during the follow-up the monthly risk of falling was decreased in the exercise group compared to controls (risk ratio 0.398, 95% CI 0.174-0.911, p = 0.029). In addition, the exercise group reported a reduced fear of falling and increased physical activity after a training period but these changes declined during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Individualized visual feedback-based balance training was shown to be a promising method for fall prevention among frail older women. High compliance (97.5%) with the training program showed that carefully targeted training programs can be carried out among older people with health limitations.
LA  - 
SN  - 0304-324X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000080180
ID  - ref1
ER  -