Objective:To determine the effectiveness of 8-week group functional balance training classes on balance outcomes in community-dwelling veterans at risk for falls.Design:Pre-test, post-test using retrospective data.Setting:VISN 8 Patient Safety Center at James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, FL, USA.Participants:Fifty one community living veterans with mean age of 78 at risk for falls.Intervention:Participants received a weekly 1-hour functional balance training class for 8 weeks in a small group setting (4–5 participants).Measurements:Pre and post intervention measures included Berg Balance Scale, Limits of Stability (LOS) and modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB).Results:Eighty four percent of the participants completed 5 or more weekly classes. Peripheral neuropathy was the most common risk factor among the participants. There was a significant improvement in the Berg (p < 0.0001) and Composite Reaction Time (p < 0.0004) after the intervention.Conclusion:An eight week group functional balance training class was safe and effective in improving balance outcomes in a cohort of elderly veterans at risk for falls.

While much of the research on falls has focused on the ambulatory elderly, little is known about wheelchair-related falls that occur in persons with disabilities. A thorough understanding of wheelchair-related falls would include the demographics, the mechanism and nature of the fall event, and the nature of any resultant injury, including the cost of treatment and long-term sequelae. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the current data on wheelchair-related falls and to make recommendations for avenues for improved quality of care and future research to promote patient safety.

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