Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a home-based
exercise intervention targeting fall risk in older adults with multiple
sclerosis. DESIGN: A randomized controlled pilot trial.
SETTING: A home-based
exercise program. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly allocated to either a
home-based exercise intervention group (n = 13) or a waiting list control group
(n = 14). The exercise group completed exercises targeting lower muscle strength
and balance three times a week for 12 weeks. The control group continued normal
activity. MEASURES: Fall risk (Physiological Profile Assessment scores), balance
(Berg Balance Scale), and walking testing prior to and immediately following the
12-week intervention. Each outcome measure was placed in an analysis of
covariance with group as the between-subject factor and baseline values as the
covariate. Effect sizes were calculated. RESULTS: Twelve participants from the
control group and ten from the exercise group completed the study. There were no
related adverse events. Fall risk was found to decrease in the exercise group
following the intervention (1.1 SD 1.0 vs. 0.6 SD 0.6) while there was an
increase in fall risk in the control group (1.9 SD 1.5 vs. 2.2 SD 1.9). Effect
sizes for most outcomes were large (eta(2) > 0.15). CONCLUSIONS: Home-based
exercise was found to be feasible, safe, and effective for reducing physiological
fall risk in older adults with multiple sclerosis. Our findings support the
implementation of a larger trial to reduce fall risk in persons with multiple sclerosis.

Langue : ANGLAIS