The effectiveness of a combined exercise intervention on physical fitness factors related to falls 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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Social networks moderate the association between physical fitness and cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults: a population-based study

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-021-02617-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hui Foh Foong ◽

Rahimah Ibrahim ◽

Tengku Aizan Hamid ◽

Sharifah Azizah Haron

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Hierarchical Multiple Regression ◽

Low Levels ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background Physical fitness declines with age. Low levels of physical fitness appear to be a risk factor of cognitive impairment. Literature elucidates social networking as a potential moderator for the relationship between physical fitness and cognitive impairment. Present study aimed to examine the relationship between physical fitness and cognitive function among community-dwelling older Malaysians, and if social network moderates said relationship. Methods Data of 2322 representative community-dwelling older adults were obtained from the first wave of the “Longitudinal Study on Neuroprotective Model for Healthy Longevity” national survey. Cognitive function, physical fitness and social network was assessed through Malay-version of Mini-Mental State Examination, 2-min step test and Lubben Social Network Scale-6 respectively. Moderated hierarchical multiple regression was employed to investigate if social networks moderate the relationship between physical fitness and cognitive function. Results A positive association between physical fitness and cognitive function were found upon controlling for covariates. Moderated hierarchical multiple regression revealed social networks to be a moderator of the association between physical fitness and cognitive function. When physical fitness was low, those with small social network revealed lowest cognitive function. Conclusions Social networks moderated the relationship between physical fitness and cognitive function as older adults with low levels of physical fitness and small social networks revealed lowest cognitive function. Therefore, community support or peer-based interventions among physically unfit older adults should be implemented to promote cognitive function.

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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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Exercise Intervention Designed to Improve Strength and Dynamic Balance among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.13.2.198 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 198-209 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Ro DiBrezzo ◽

Barbara B. Shadden ◽

Blake H. Raybon ◽

Melissa Powers

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Upper Extremity ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Dynamic Balance ◽

Low Cost ◽

Balance Training ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Training Exercises ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Loss of balance and falling are critical concerns for older adults. Physical activity can improve balance and decrease the risk of falling. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a simple, low-cost exercise program for community-dwelling older adults. Sixteen senior adults were evaluated using the Senior Fitness Test for measures of functional strength, aerobic endurance, dynamic balance and agility, and flexibility. In addition, measures of height, weight, resting blood pressure, blood lipids, and cognitive function were obtained. Participants then attended a 10-week exercise class including stretching, strengthening, and balance-training exercises. At the completion of the program, significant improvements were observed in tests measuring dynamic balance and agility, lower and upper extremity strength, and upper extremity flexibility. The results indicate that exercise programs such as this are an effective, low-cost solution to improving health and factors that affect falling risk among 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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