TY - JOUR
T1 - Intensive exercise reduces the fear of additional falls in elderly people
T2 - Findings from the Korea falls prevention study
AU - Oh, Dong Hyun
AU - Park, Ji Eun
AU - Lee, Eon Sook
AU - Oh, Sang Woo
AU - Cho, Sung Il
AU - Jang, Soong Nang
AU - Baik, Hyun Wook
PY - 2012/12
Y1 - 2012/12
N2 - Background/Aims: Falls among older people are a major public health problem and may result in fracture, medical complications that require hospitalization, and fear of additional falls. Given the prevalence and impact of the fear of falling again, reducing the incidence of falls is important to prevent additional falls. This study analyzed whether exercise programs decrease the fear of future falls in elderly patients who have fallen previously. Methods: A randomized controlled study was performed that included 65 elderly community-dwelling subjects who had fallen in the previous year. Subjects were randomized into two groups: an exercise group (EG, n = 36) and a control group (CG, n = 29). The EG participated in three exercise sessions per week for 12 weeks. Muscle strength, balance, agility, flexibility, and muscular endurance were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. Results: After the 12-week exercise program, the subjects in the EG demonstrated remarkable improvement in their walking speed, balance (p = 0.003), back strength (p = 0.08), lower extremity strength (p = 0.004), and flexibility (p < 0.001). When asked whether they were afraid of falling, more participants in the EG than in the CG responded "not at all" or "a little." Conclusions: The 12-week exercise program described here reduced the fear of falling (p = 0.02). It also improved the balance, flexibility, and muscle strength of the participants and was associated with improved quality of life.
AB - Background/Aims: Falls among older people are a major public health problem and may result in fracture, medical complications that require hospitalization, and fear of additional falls. Given the prevalence and impact of the fear of falling again, reducing the incidence of falls is important to prevent additional falls. This study analyzed whether exercise programs decrease the fear of future falls in elderly patients who have fallen previously. Methods: A randomized controlled study was performed that included 65 elderly community-dwelling subjects who had fallen in the previous year. Subjects were randomized into two groups: an exercise group (EG, n = 36) and a control group (CG, n = 29). The EG participated in three exercise sessions per week for 12 weeks. Muscle strength, balance, agility, flexibility, and muscular endurance were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. Results: After the 12-week exercise program, the subjects in the EG demonstrated remarkable improvement in their walking speed, balance (p = 0.003), back strength (p = 0.08), lower extremity strength (p = 0.004), and flexibility (p < 0.001). When asked whether they were afraid of falling, more participants in the EG than in the CG responded "not at all" or "a little." Conclusions: The 12-week exercise program described here reduced the fear of falling (p = 0.02). It also improved the balance, flexibility, and muscle strength of the participants and was associated with improved quality of life.
KW - Accidental falls
KW - Aging
KW - Exercise
KW - Fear
KW - Prevention
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84871732579&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3904/kjim.2012.27.4.417
DO - 10.3904/kjim.2012.27.4.417
M3 - Article
C2 - 23269883
AN - SCOPUS:84871732579
SN - 1226-3303
VL - 27
SP - 417
EP - 425
JO - Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
JF - Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
IS - 4
ER -