This balance training program, including dual- and multi-task, improves fall-related self-efficacy, gait speed, balance performance, and physical function in older adults with osteoporosis.

This new balance training programme is feasible and leads to decreased fear of falling, decreased time for step execution during dual-task performance and increased velocity during fast walking.

This training program provided important positive short and long-term benefits to gait, balance function, and fear of falling.

Objective:To give the rationale and evidence for and a detailed description of a rehabilitation programme of proven effectiveness in improving balance in older adults.Background theory and evidence:Based on the knowledge that balance loss usually occurs in situations when attention is divided, especially when being older, and that balance control relies on the interaction of several physiological systems, we have developed a specific and progressive balance training programme with dual- and multi-task exercises for older adults.Practical application:Balance demanding exercises, specific to the various components of balance control and to situations in daily life, were performed in sitting, standing and walking at three different levels of progression (basic, moderate and advanced) of increasing difficulty and complexity. The training was performed in 45-minutes group sessions, with 6–10 participants in each group, three times per week during 12 weeks, with two or three physiotherapists present.Conclusions:This balance training programme strengthens self-efficacy in balance control leading to improved fall-related self-efficacy, reduced fear of falling, increased walking speed, and improved physical function. Participants found the programme motivating, valuable, fun, and enjoyable, which was reflected in a high attendance rate.

Both the BBS and Mini-BESTest were found to be valid scales for assessing balance control in individuals with chronic SCI. The Mini-BESTest may be preferable for this group primarily due to the lack of a ceiling effect.

PurposeTo translate and perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) to Swedish, to investigate absolute and relative reliability, concurrent validity, and floor and ceiling effects within a Swedish-speaking sample of community-dwelling older adults with self-reported balance deficits and fear of falling.MethodTranslation, reliability and validation study of the LLFDI. Sixty-two community-dwelling, healthy older adults (54 women and 8 men) aged 68–88 years with balance deficits and fear of falling performed the LLFDI twice with an interval of 2 weeks.ResultsTest–retest agreement, intra-class correlation coefficient was very good, 0.87–0.91 in the LLFDI function component and 0.82–0.91 in the LLFDI disability component. The standard error of measure was small, 5–9%, and the smallest real difference was 14–24%. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) was high (0.90–0.96). Correlation with the SF-36 PCS and PF-10 was moderate in both LLFDI function, r = 0.39–0.68 and r = 0.35–0.52, and LLFDI disability, r = 0.40–0.63 and 0.34–0.57, respectively. There was no floor or ceiling effects.ConclusionThe Swedish version of the LLFDI is a highly reliable and valid instrument for assessing function and disability in community-dwelling older women with self-reported balance deficits and fear of falling.Implications for RehabilitationThe Swedish LLFDI is a highly reliable and valid instrument for assessing function and disability in older women with self-reported balance deficits and fear of falling.The instrument may be used both in clinical settings and in research.The instrument is sensitive to change and a reasonably small improvement is enough to detect changes in a group or a single individual.

The FES-I seems to be a highly reliable questionnaire for assessing fear of falling in elderly with increased fall risk but has low relation to/convergent validity with balance performance and HRQL among elderly women with osteoporosis.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of a 12-week balance training programme on self-assessed function and disability in healthy community-dwelling older adults with self-perceived balance deficits and fear of falling.Design:A prospective, randomized controlled trial.Setting:Stockholm County, Sweden.Participants:A total of 59 community-dwelling older adults (42 women and 17 men) aged 67–93 were randomized to either an intervention group (n = 38) or to serve as controls (n = 21) after baseline testing.Intervention:The intervention was a 12-week, three times per week, progressive, specific and individually adjusted group balance-training programme.Main measures:Self-perceived function and disability measured with Late Life Function and Disability Instrument.Results:The intervention group reported improvement in overall function (p = 0.016), as well as in basic (p = 0.044) and advanced lower extremity function (p = 0.025) compared with the control group. The study showed no improvement in overall disability or upper extremity function.Conclusion:This group balance training programme improves self-assessed function in community-dwelling older adults with balance deficits and fear of falling.