Exercise training for rehabilitation and secondary prevention of falls in geriatric patients with a history of injurious falls

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of an exercise protocol des igned to improve strength, mobility, and balance and to reduce subsequent f alls in geriatric patients with a history of injurious falls. DESIGN: A randomized controlled 3-month intervention trial, with an additio nal 3-month follow-up. SETTING: Out-patient geriatric rehabilitation unit. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-seven female geriatric patients (mean age 82 +/- 4.8 ye ars; range 75-90) admitted to acute care or inpatient rehabilitation with a history of recurrent or injurious falls including patients with acute fall -related fracture. INTERVENTION: Ambulatory training of strength, functional performance, and balance 3 times per week for 3 months. Patients of the control group attend ed a placebo group 3 times a week for 3 months. Both groups received an ide ntical physiotherapeutic treatment 2 times a week, in which strengthening a nd balance training were excluded. MEASUREMENTS: Strength, functional ability, motor function, psychological p arameters, and fall rates were assessed by standardized protocols at the be ginning (T1) and the end (T2) of intervention. Patients were followed up fo r 3 months after the intervention (T3). RESULTS: No training-related medical problems occurred in the study group. Forty-five patients (79%) completed all assessments after the intervention and follow-up period. Adherence was excellent in both groups (intervention 85.4 +/- 27.8% vs control 84.2 +/- 29.3%). The patients in the intervention group increased strength, functional motor performance, and balance signif icantly. Fall-related behavioral and emotional restrictions were reduced si gnificantly. Improvements persisted during the 3-month follow-up with only moderate losses. For patients of the control group, no change in strength, functional performance, or emotional status could he documented during inte rvention and follow-up. Fall incidence was reduced nonsignificantly by 25% in the intervention group compared with the control group (RR:0.753 CI:0.45 5-1.245). CONCLUSIONS: Progressive resistance training and progressive functional tra ining are safe and effective methods of increasing strength and functional performance and reducing fall-related behavioral and emotional restrictions during ambulant rehabilitation in frail, high-risk geriatric patients with a history of injurious falls.