Action Seniors!
Action Seniors!: A 12-month randomized controlled trial of a home based strength and balance retraining program in reducing falls.
Project Goals - What are we doing?
The objective of this study is to determine whether or not a home based program of balance and strength retraining exercises, the Otago Program, is effective in reducing falls in older persons who present to the emergency department or to their family doctor after sustaining a fall.
Research Outcomes - What will be achieved?
Background - Why is this research important?
According to the 1994 Canadian Study of Health and Aging, cognitive impairment of all types increases with age and affects 65% of those Canadians aged 85 years and older. Falls are the most frequent cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality among older people. Cognitive impairment is a leading fall risk factor. Approximately 60% of older adults with cognitive impairment, with or without dementia, fall annually; this incidence is approximately twice that of cognitively normal peers. The cognitively impaired older faller is also at increased risk of major injury such as fracture. Thus, interventions that either prevent the onset of cognitive impairment or prevent further cognitive decline in the aging population are likely to reduce falls and fall-related fractures. Recent evidence suggests physical activity, specifically cardiovascular fitness training (CVT), has benefits for cognition in older adults. However, few studies to date have examined the effect of other types of exercises, such as resistance training (RT), on cognitive function in older adults. RT is an attractive mode of exercise for older adults as it specifically moderates sarcopenia.
Back to Hip Fracture Prevention: Selected Projects
Publications related to this project
- Community-dwelling seniors who present to the emergency department with a fall do not receive Guideline care and their fall risk profile worsens significantly: a 6-month prospective study. Osteoporos Int. 2006;17(5):672-83. Epub 2006 Feb 21
- Community-based exercise program reduces risk factors for falls in 65- to 75-year-old women with osteoporosis: randomized controlled trial. CMAJ. 2002 Oct 29;167(9):997-1004. Erratum in: CMAJ. 2003 Jan 21;168(2):152
- The role of balance and agility training in fall reduction. A comprehensive review. Eura Medicophys. 2004 Sep;40(3):211-21.
- Emergency department fall-related presentations do not trigger fall risk assessment: a gap in care of high-risk outpatient fallers. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2005 Nov-Dec;41(3):311-7. Epub 2005 Jun 27