Exercise Training for Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention of Falls

Exercise Training for Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention of Falls in Geriatric Patients with a History of Injurious Falls

1. Klaus Hauer PhD¹,
2. Brenda Rost¹,
3. Kirstin Rütschle¹,
4. Hedda Opitz¹,
5. Norbert Specht MD¹,
6. Peter Bärtsch MD²,
7. Peter Oster MD¹,
8. Günter Schlierf MD¹

Abstract

Keywords:

• geriatric patients;
• injurious falls;
• physical training
•  

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of an exercise protocol designed to improve strength, mobility, and balance and to reduce subsequent falls in geriatric patients with a history of injurious falls.

DESIGN: A randomized controlled 3-month intervention trial, with an additional 3-month follow-up.

SETTING: Out-patient geriatric rehabilitation unit.

PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-seven female geriatric patients (mean age 82 ± 4.8 years; range 75–90) admitted to acute care or inpatient rehabilitation with a history of recurrent or injurious falls including patients with acute fall-related fracture.

INTERVENTION: Ambulatory training of strength, functional performance, and balance 3 times per week for 3 months. Patients of the control group attended a placebo group 3 times a week for 3 months. Both groups received an identical physiotherapeutic treatment 2 times a week, in which strengthening and balance training were excluded.

MEASUREMENTS: Strength, functional ability, motor function, psychological parameters, and fall rates were assessed by standardized protocols at the beginning (T1) and the end (T2) of intervention. Patients were followed up for 3 months after the intervention (T3).

RESULTS: No training-related medical problems occurred in the study group. Forty-five patients (79%) completed all assessments after the intervention and follow-up period. Adherence was excellent in both groups (intervention 85.4 ± 27.8% vs control 84.2 ± 29.3%).

The patients in the intervention group increased strength, functional motor performance, and balance significantly. Fall-related behavioral and emotional restrictions were reduced significantly. Improvements persisted during the 3-month follow-up with only moderate losses.

For patients of the control group, no change in strength, functional performance, or emotional status could be documented during intervention and follow-up. Fall incidence was reduced nonsignificantly by 25% in the intervention group compared with the control group (RR:0.753 CI:0.455–1.245).

CONCLUSIONS: Progressive resistance training and progressive functional training are safe and effective methods of increasing strength and functional performance and reducing fall-related behavioral and emotional restrictions during ambulant rehabilitation in frail, high-risk geriatric patients with a history of injurious falls.


Quelle:  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1532-5415.2001.49004.x/abstract?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=true

Exercise Training for Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention of Falls in Geriatric Patients with a History of Injurious Falls

Online im internet - Zugriff: 30.09.2012 . Full Text / pdf: 

http://knowledgetranslation.ca/sysrev/articles/project51/Hauer2001.pdf

JÖRG LINDER AKTIV-TRAINING – Ihr Personal Trainer für Baden-Baden, Karlsruhe, Pfalz, Offenburg, Kehl, Ortenau, Freiburg, Breisgau, Pforzheim, Heidelberg, Ludwigshafen, Mannheim, Stuttgart   (überregional auf Anfrage)

JÖRG LINDER AKTIV-TRAINING

Mauerbergstraße 110

76534 Baden-Baden

Tel.: 07223 / 8004699

Mobil: 0177 / 4977232

Mail: info@aktiv-training.de

Fax: 07223 / 8005271

AKTIV-TRAINING:  www.aktiv-training.de

Personal Training: www.personaltrainingbadenbaden.wordpress.com 
Gesundheitsmanager: www.gesundheitsmanager-24.de
Prävention: http://preventex.blogspot.com