Gait Speed and Home-Based Exercise for Fall Prevention in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Rice Jordyn, Falck Ryan, Davis Jennifer, Dian Larry, Madden Kenneth, Cook Wendy, Miran-Khan Karim, Liu-Ambrose Teresa
Primary Institution: University of British Columbia
Hypothesis
Does baseline gait speed moderate the effects of a home-based exercise program on fall rates among older adults?
Conclusion
Older adults with slow gait speed may benefit significantly from home-based exercise to reduce fall rates.
Supporting Evidence
- Exercise reduced fall rates by 44% for participants with slow gait speed at 6 months.
- No significant effect of exercise on fall rates for participants with normal gait speed.
- Gait speed moderated the intervention effects on mobility and cognitive function.
Takeaway
Older people who walk slowly can reduce their chances of falling by doing home exercises.
Methodology
Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial with community-dwelling adults over 70 who had fallen in the past year.
Participant Demographics
Community-dwelling adults over 70 years old with a history of falls.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.03
Confidence Interval
[0.33, 0.95]
Statistical Significance
p=0.03
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website