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Title:
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Effectiveness of FallProof home-based DVD program in improving balance, select functional fitness parameters, and balance-related confidence among community-dwelling older adults who have been identified as moderate to high risk of falls
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Author:
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Ward, Kelly
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Abstract:
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One third of adults over the age of 65 will fall each year and fifty percent of those falls could be prevented. Researchers agree that participating in a multidimensional exercise program, either at home or in the community, that includes strength, flexibility, balance and endurance training components can reduce fall risk among community-dwelling older adults. The purpose of this study is to investigate the benefits of participating in the FallProof™ at Home (FAH) balance and mobility program for older adults identified at moderate to high risk of falls and living in the communities of Sacramento, California.
Sources of Data: Eighty-one older adults were assessed for fall risk using the Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB) scale. Measures of lower body strength and flexibility and self-perceived balance confidence were also evaluated. Thirty-eight participants met eligibility requirements; twenty-three participants were assigned to the intervention group and participated in the 12-week FAH DVD program and fifteen participants were assigned to the usual activity control group. Data were analyzed with a paired sample t-test with a significance level set at p<.05. Repeated-measures ANOVA were performed, testing only the Group X Time interaction. Post-hoc t-tests were performed to compare the four mean differences.
Conclusions Reached: After the 12-week study period, the data showed that the intervention group improved significantly in FAB and BES scores but not significantly in lower body strength or flexibility. The control group did not improve significantly on any of the four test variables. This data suggests that participating in the progressively challenging FallProof™ at Home (FAH) balance and mobility DVD program can reduce fall risk and improve self-perceived balance confidence among older adults identified at high to moderate fall risk and living in the community. Future research might want to look at the efficacy of participation in FAH in addition to participation in the community-based FallProof™ program or test the effect of participating in FAH on different identified fall risk factors. |
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Description:
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Thesis (M.S., Special Major (Therapeutic Aging)) -- California State University, Sacramento, 2010. |
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URI:
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http://hdl.handle.net/10211.9/1109
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Date:
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2011-05-19 |
