Article

OBJECTIVE: To
evaluate the feasibility and gait stability and balance outcomes of a 4-month
individualized home exercise program for women with arthritis. DESIGN: Pre-post
interventional study. SETTING: General community. PARTICIPANTS: Women (N=49)
(volunteers) with lower-limb osteoarthritis or lower-limb rheumatoid arthritis
were enrolled. Only 39 subjects were eligible and completed the study.
INTERVENTION: After completion of the initial assessment, all participants
received home balance exercises from an experienced physiotherapist based on
assessment findings and exercises available from commercially available kits. All
measures were repeated 4 months later. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Falls risk (Falls
Risk of Older People-Community Setting) and balance measures. RESULTS:
Thirty-nine women (mean age, 69.3y; 95% confidence interval, 65.7-72.9) completed
the 4-month program. At baseline, 64% of participants reported falling in the
preceding 12 months, and the average falls risk (Falls Risk of Older
People-Community Setting) score was 14.5, with 42% rated as moderate risk
(16-23). Participants achieved improved performance on most balance and related
measures after the exercise program, including falls risk (P=.01), activity
levels (P=.015), fear of falling (P=.022), functional reach test (P=.001), rising
index for sit to stand (P=.001), step width in walking (P=.001), and body mass
index (P=.006). CONCLUSIONS: An individualized balance training home exercise
program is feasible for older women with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
and may improve stability during walking and other functional activities.
CI - Copyright (c) 2010 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS