An evaluation of a nurse-led rehabilitation programme (the ProBalance Programme) to improve balance and reduce fall risk of community-dwelling older people: A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to assess the effect of a nurse-led rehabilitation programme (the ProBalance Programme) on balance and fall risk of community-dwelling older people from Madeira Island, Portugal. Design: Single-blind, randomised controlled trial. Setting: University laboratory.Participants: Community-dwelling older people, aged 65-85, with balance impairments. Participants were randomly allocated to an intervention group (IG; n = 27) or a wait-list control group (CG; n = 25). Intervention: A rehabilitation nursing programme included gait, balance, functional training, strengthening, flexibility, and 3D training. One trained rehabilitation nurse administered the group-based intervention over a period of 12 weeks (90 min sessions, 2 days per week). A wait-list control group was instructed to maintain their usual activities during the same time period. Outcome: Balance was assessed using the Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB) scale. The time points for assessment were at zero (pre-test), 12 (post-test), and 24 weeks (follow up). Results: Changes in the mean (SD) FAB scale scores immediately following the 12-week intervention were 5.15 (2.81) for the IG and À1.45 (2.80) for the CG. At follow-up, the mean (SD) change scores were À1.88 (1.84) and 0.75 (2.99) for the IG and CG, respectively. The results of a mixed between-within subjects analysis of variance, controlling for physical activity levels at baseline, revealed a significant interaction between group and time (F (2, 42) = 27.89, p < 0.001, Partial Eta Squared = 0.57) and a main effect for time (F (2, 43) = 3.76, p = 0.03, Partial Eta Squared = 0.15), with both groups showing changes in the mean FAB scale scores across the three time periods. A significant main effect comparing

Mismatch between risk factors and preventive interventions? A register study of fall prevention among older people in one Swedish county

“…() argued that individually tailored multifactorial interventions were most effective. Regarding individually tailored interventions, nurse‐led rehabilitation programmes can reduce the risk of falling and improve the balance among older people with balance impairment (Gouveia et al., ). Conversely, another individualised intervention targeting specific risk factors, that is, impaired balance and vision in older people did not result in a reduction of fall rates, and no improvements in balance were seen (Lord et al., ).…”

Equilíbrio, mobilidade funcional e qualidade de vida em idosos participantes e não participantes de um centro de convivência

“…Os achados deste estudo vão ao encontro de Tomicki et al [17], que observaram melhora no equilíbrio de idosos após participação em um programa de atividades físicas e também concordam com outros estudos [5][6][7][8][18][19][20][21][22][23], nos quais foram avaliados o equilíbrio e a mobilidade funcional de idosos ativos fisicamente e sedentários, observando menor mobilidade funcional e maiores déficits no equilíbrio nos idosos sedentários, concluindo então que a prática de atividades físicas contribuiu para a redução do risco de quedas.…”

“…Dentre tais comprometimentos, destacase a instabilidade postural, que ocorre devido às alterações dos sistemas sensorial e motor, levando a uma redução do equilíbrio [4]. O comprometimento do equilíbrio corporal pode interferir na mobilidade funcional, gerando também maior predisposição a quedas, fraturas e receio de cair novamente [5][6][7][8]. Esses fatores podem conduzir também à redução na qualidade de vida (QV) dos idosos, uma vez que esta é determinada, em grande parte, pela capacidade do idoso em manter sua autonomia e independência.…”

Relationship between fall risks and activities of daily living in older individuals

“…The form, which was prepared by the researcher in line with the related literature, was composed of seven questions that aimed to collect information about age, gender, marital status, and income level. 18,19…”