Article

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a new, individually adjusted, progressive
and specific balance group training programme on fear of falling, step execution,
and gait in healthy elderly people with fear of falling and tend to fall. Design:
Randomized controlled trial. Setting: The study was conducted in Stockholm
County, Sweden. Subjects : Fifty-nine community dwelling elderly people were
recruited by advertisement, and allocated at random to an intervention group (n =
38) or a control group (n = 21). Intervention: Individually adjusted, progressive
and specific balance group training was given three times a week for three
months. The training incorporated elements included in, and required for,
independent activities of daily living, and for reactions to loss of balance
during dual or multiple tasks. Main measures: Fear of falling was assessed with
Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I). The reaction time of step execution
was measured with the step-execution test, and gait was measured with
GAITRite(R). Results: After three months the intervention group showed
significant positive changes in the FES-I (P = 0.008), in the step-execution
phase of dual-task performance (P = 0.012), and in gait at preferred speed during
single-task performance; in cadence (P = 0.030) and, at fast speed, in velocity
(P = 0.004) and cadence (P = 0.001). Significant decreases were also found for
the likelihood of depression after participating in the training programme.
Conclusion: This new balance training programme is feasible and leads to
decreased fear of falling, decreased time for step execution during dual-task
performance and increased velocity during fast walking.

Langue : ANGLAIS