Exercise and Fall Prevention: Narrowing the Research‐to‐Practice Gap and Enhancing Integration of Clinical and Community Practice

Abstract

Falls in older adults are a global public health crisis, but mounting evidence from randomized controlled trials shows that falls can be reduced through exercise. Public health authorities and healthcare professionals endorse the use of evidence‐based, exercise‐focused fall interventions, but there are major obstacles to translating and disseminating research findings into healthcare practice, including lack of evidence of the transferability of efficacy trial results to clinical and community settings, insufficient local expertise to roll out community exercise programs, and inadequate infrastructure to integrate evidence‐based programs into clinical and community practice. The practical solutions highlighted in this article can be used to address these evidence‐to‐practice challenges. Falls and their associated healthcare costs can be reduced by better integrating research on exercise intervention into clinical practice and community programs.

Community health promotion programs for older adults: What helps and hinders implementation

“…Community‐based organizations can struggle to find personnel with the appropriate knowledge and skills to design and deliver a program. This can limit appropriateness, feasibility, attractiveness, and, thus, participation . Mechanisms that enable community‐based organizations to gain in‐house skills, knowledge, and resources would greatly enable the provision of programs that focus on PA and social connectedness .…”

Outdoor physical activity for older people—the senior exercise park: Current research, challenges and future directions

“…Wide implementation of the outdoor seniors’ exercise park in Australia will require overcoming these challenges. In addition, work is required to address general obstacles of translating and disseminating research findings into practice (eg, insufficient local expertise to roll out community exercise programs, and inadequate infrastructure to integrate evidence‐based programs into community practice) …”

“…In addition, work is required to address general obstacles of translating and disseminating research findings into practice (eg, insufficient local expertise to roll out community exercise programs, and inadequate infrastructure to integrate evidence-based programs into community practice). 14 To allow wider usage of the seniors' exercise park, local councils/ authorities should consider older peoples' needs when designing their parks and urban/rural spaces. As councils often seek landscape services, discussion with relevant experts in the fields (allied health professionals/researchers specialised in ageing and gerontology) is also recommended.…”

Prevention of falls in older people living in the community

“…[148][149][150] A recent article highlighted potential strategies to integrate evidence based exercise programs for reducing falls into routine clinical and community programs. 151 Potential solutions included:…”