Pilot Study: Predictive Measures of Self-Reported Confidence Levels and Physical Performance Related to Fall Risk in Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract BackgroundAging increases fall risk and alters gait mechanics and control. Our previous work has identified sideways walking as a potential training regimen to decrease fall risk by improving frontal plane control in older adults’ gait. The purposes of this pilot study were to test the feasibility of sideways walking as an exercise intervention and to explore its preliminary effects on risk-of-falling related outcomes.MethodsWe conducted a 6-week single-arm intervention pilot study. Participants were community-dwelling older adults ≥ 65 years old with walking ability. Key exclusion criteria were neuromusculoskeletal and cardiovascular disorders that affect gait. Individualized sideways walking intervention carried out under close supervision in a 200 m indoor walking track (3 days∙week− 1). Recruitment and retention capability, safety, and fidelity of intervention delivery were recorded. We also collected (open-label) walking speed, gait variability, self-reported and performance-based functional measures to assess participants’ risk-of-falling at baseline and post-intervention: immediate, and 6 weeks after the completion of the intervention.ResultsOver a 7-month period, 42 individuals expressed interest, 21 assessed for eligibility (21/42), and 15 consented to participate (15/21). Most of the potential participants were reluctant to commit to a 6-week intervention. Desired recruitment rate was achieved after revising the recruitment strategy. One participant dropped out (1/15). Remaining participants demonstrated excellent adherence to the protocol. Participants improved on most outcomes and the effects remained at follow-up. No serious adverse events were recorded during the intervention.ConclusionOur 6-week sideways walking training was feasible to deliver and demonstrated strong potential as an exercise intervention to improve risk-of-falling outcomes in community-dwelling older adults. In a future trial, alternative clinical tools should be considered to minimize the presence of ceiling/floor effects. A future large trial is needed to confirm sideways walking as a fall prevention intervention.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04505527. Retrospectively registered 10 August 2020.Trial fundingCenter for Research in Human Movement Variability, National Institutes for Health, University of Nebraska Collaboration Initiative.

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Pilotstudie av genomförbarheten av Judo4Balance

Äldre i Centrum Vetenskapligt supplement ◽

10.52585/icvs.v1i1.7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marina Arkkukangas ◽

Karin Strömqvist Bååthe ◽

Julia Hamilton ◽

Anna Ekholm ◽

Michail Tonkonogi

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Exercise Programme ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Risk Of Injury ◽

Study Process ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Studien undersöker genomförbarheten av ett nytt judoinspirerat träningsprogram för äldre personer, Judo4Balance. Vi utvärderade genomförbarheten inför en fullskalig studie genom att följa studieprocess, resurshantering och vetenskapliga aspekter. Ytterligare utfallsmått var fysisk funktion, tilltro till egen förmåga att utföra aktiviteter utan att falla samt falltekniker. Interventionen bedömdes vara genomförbar, med vissa ändringar i träningsprogrammets längd. Vi kunde se signifikanta förbättringar av fysisk funktion och falltekniker. När det gäller tilltro till egen förmåga att utföra aktiviteter utan att falla fann vi ingen motsvarande skillnad. Judo4Balance är ett genomförbart och effektivt träningsprogram för äldre personer. Studien bidrar till ett säkert och noggrant planerat protokoll för en större studie. Resultaten tyder på att interventionen kan vara effektiv för att förebygga fallolyckor och minska risken för skador vid ett eventuellt fall. Pilot study of the feasibility of Judo4Balance – a fall preventive exercise programme targeting older adults living in their own homes The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of Judo4Balance, a novel judo-inspired exercise intervention for community-dwelling older adults. The feasibility of carrying out a full-scale study was evaluated by the following: the study process, resource management and scientific aspects. The outcome measures evaluated were physical performance, fall related self-efficacy and fall techniques (backwards and forwards) among the older adults. The intervention was judged to be feasible in the different settings, with some changes regarding duration of the intervention. Significant improvements were seen in physical performance and fall techniques, but not for fall related self-efficacy. Judo4Balance is a feasible intervention for active older adults. This study will provide a safe and thoroughly planned protocol for the planned study and provides indication of appropriate setting depending on the target group. The results suggest that the intervention could be efficent in preventing fall accidents, or lower the risk of injury in case of a fall.

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Novel Mat Exergaming to Improve the Physical Performance, Cognitive Function, and Dual-Task Walking and Decrease the Fall Risk of Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01620 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hsien-Te Peng ◽

Cheng-Wen Tien ◽

Pay-Shin Lin ◽

Hsuen-Ying Peng ◽

Chen-Yi Song

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Dual Task ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

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Risk‐of‐falling related outcomes improved in community‐dwelling older adults after a 6-week sideways walking intervention: a feasibility and pilot study

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-021-02010-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Andreas Skiadopoulos ◽

Nick Stergiou

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Recruitment Rate ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Recruitment Strategy ◽

Risk Of Falling ◽

Walking Intervention ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Background Aging increases fall risk and alters gait mechanics and control. Our previous work has identified sideways walking as a potential training regimen to decrease fall risk by improving frontal plane control in older adults’ gait. The purposes of this pilot study were to test the feasibility of sideways walking as an exercise intervention and to explore its preliminary effects on risk-of-falling related outcomes. Methods We conducted a 6-week single-arm intervention pilot study. Participants were community-dwelling older adults ≥ 65 years old with walking ability. Key exclusion criteria were neuromusculoskeletal and cardiovascular disorders that affect gait. Because initial recruitment rate through University of Nebraska at Omaha and Omaha community was slower than expected (3 participants∙week− 1), we expanded the recruitment pool through the Mind & Brain Health Labs registry of the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Individualized sideways walking intervention carried out under close supervision in a 200 m indoor walking track (3 days∙week− 1). Recruitment and retention capability, safety, and fidelity of intervention delivery were recorded. We also collected (open-label) walking speed, gait variability, self-reported and performance-based functional measures to assess participants’ risk-of-falling at baseline and post-intervention: immediate, and 6 weeks after the completion of the intervention. Results Over a 7-month period, 42 individuals expressed interest, 21 assessed for eligibility (21/42), and 15 consented to participate (15/21). Most of the potential participants were reluctant to commit to a 6-week intervention. Desired recruitment rate was achieved after revising the recruitment strategy. One participant dropped out (1/15). Remaining participants demonstrated excellent adherence to the protocol. Participants improved on most outcomes and the effects remained at follow-up. No serious adverse events were recorded during the intervention. Conclusions Our 6-week sideways walking training was feasible to deliver and demonstrated strong potential as an exercise intervention to improve risk-of-falling outcomes in community-dwelling older adults. In a future trial, alternative clinical tools should be considered to minimize the presence of ceiling/floor effects. A future large trial is needed to confirm sideways walking as a fall prevention intervention. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04505527. Retrospectively registered 10 August 2020.

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Fall Risk Beliefs and Behaviors Following a Fall in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Pilot Study

Physical & Occupational Therapy In Geriatrics ◽

10.3109/02703181.2011.649230 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 53-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Karen Gopaul ◽

Denise M. Connelly

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Risk Beliefs ◽

And Behaviors ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

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Impact of Malnutrition Status on Muscle Parameter Changes over a 5-Year Follow-Up of Community-Dwelling Older Adults from the SarcoPhAge Cohort

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13020407 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 407

Author(s):

Laetitia Lengelé ◽

Olivier Bruyère ◽

Charlotte Beaudart ◽

Jean-Yves Reginster ◽

Médéa Locquet

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Timed Up And Go ◽

P Values ◽

Student’S T ◽

The Impact ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

This study aimed to assess the impact of malnutrition on the 5-year evolution of physical performance, muscle mass and muscle strength in participants from the SarcoPhAge cohort, consisting of community-dwelling older adults. The malnutrition status was assessed at baseline (T0) according to the “Global Leadership Initiatives on Malnutrition” (GLIM) criteria, and the muscle parameters were evaluated both at T0 and after five years of follow-up (T5). Lean mass, muscle strength and physical performance were assessed using dual X-ray absorptiometry, handgrip dynamometry, the short physical performance battery test and the timed up and go test, respectively. Differences in muscle outcomes according to nutritional status were tested using Student’s t-test. The association between malnutrition and the relative 5-year change in the muscle parameters was tested using multiple linear regressions adjusted for several covariates. A total of 411 participants (mean age of 72.3 ± 6.1 years, 56% women) were included. Of them, 96 individuals (23%) were diagnosed with malnutrition at baseline. Their muscle parameters were significantly lower than those of the well-nourished patients both at baseline and after five years of follow-up (all p-values < 0.05), except for muscle strength in women at T5, which was not significantly lower in the presence of malnutrition. However, the 5-year changes in muscle parameters of malnourished individuals were not significantly different than those of well-nourished individuals (all p-values > 0.05).

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