Article

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a multifactorial falls prevention program
reduces falls in people with stroke at risk of recurrent falls and whether this
program leads to improvements in gait, balance, strength, and fall-related efficacy. DESIGN:
A single blind, multicenter, randomized controlled trial with
12-month follow-up. SETTING: Participants were recruited after discharge from
rehabilitation and followed up in the community.
PARTICIPANTS: Participants
(N=156) were people with stroke at risk of recurrent falls being discharged home
from rehabilitation. INTERVENTIONS: Tailored multifactorial falls prevention
program and usual care (n=71) or control (usual care, n=85). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were rate of falls and proportion of fallers.
Secondary outcomes included injurious falls, falls risk, participation, activity,
leg strength, gait speed, balance, and falls efficacy. RESULTS: There was no
significant difference in fall rate (intervention: 1.89 falls/person-year, control: 1.76 falls/person-year, incidence rate ratio=1.10, P=.74) or the
proportion of fallers between the groups (risk ratio=.83, 95% confidence
interval=.60-1.14). There was no significant difference in injurious fall rate (intervention: .74 injurious falls/person-year, control: .49 injurious
falls/person-year, incidence rate ratio=1.57, P=.25), and there were no
significant differences between groups on any other secondary outcome. CONCLUSIONS:
This multifactorial falls prevention program was not effective in
reducing falls in people with stroke who are at risk of falls nor was it more
effective than usual care in improving gait, balance, and strength in people with
stroke. Further research is required to identify effective interventions for this
high-risk group.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS