TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of a home-based exercise program on balance confidence, balance performance, and gait in debilitated, ambulatory community-dwelling older adults
T2 - A pilot study
AU - Miller, Kenneth L.
AU - Magel, John R.
AU - Hayes, Joseph G.
PY - 2010/4/1
Y1 - 2010/4/1
N2 - Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of a home-based standing exercise and balance training program on balance confidence, balance performance, and gait in debilitated, ambulatory community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A quasi-experimental single group pre- to posttest design was utilized in 14 subjects, 9 male and 5 female, aged 71 to 85 years receiving home care. Measurements included the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), and the One-Leg Stance Test (OLST) administered prior to and following 4 weeks of exercise and balance training. Participants trained twice per day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks, and maintained exercise logs. Results: Pre- to posttest differences on the FES, POMA, and OLST were analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the 2-tailed paired t test, respectively, with statistical significance set at .05. Analysis demonstrated significant improvements on the FES, POMA, and OLST following 4-weeks of standing exercise and balance training. Based on entrance and exit interviews, 6 of the 14 participants had a history of falls in the 6 months prior to the study, while only 2 participants reported having a single, minor fall by discharge. Conclusions: The results of the present pilot study demonstrated significant improvement in balance confidence, balance performance, and gait in debilitated, ambulatory community-dwelling older adults following participation in a home-based exercise and balance training program. However, definitive conclusions need to await validation from more rigorously designed studies before the present training program can be confidently recommended to physical therapists engaged in home care practice.
AB - Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of a home-based standing exercise and balance training program on balance confidence, balance performance, and gait in debilitated, ambulatory community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A quasi-experimental single group pre- to posttest design was utilized in 14 subjects, 9 male and 5 female, aged 71 to 85 years receiving home care. Measurements included the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), and the One-Leg Stance Test (OLST) administered prior to and following 4 weeks of exercise and balance training. Participants trained twice per day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks, and maintained exercise logs. Results: Pre- to posttest differences on the FES, POMA, and OLST were analyzed with the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the 2-tailed paired t test, respectively, with statistical significance set at .05. Analysis demonstrated significant improvements on the FES, POMA, and OLST following 4-weeks of standing exercise and balance training. Based on entrance and exit interviews, 6 of the 14 participants had a history of falls in the 6 months prior to the study, while only 2 participants reported having a single, minor fall by discharge. Conclusions: The results of the present pilot study demonstrated significant improvement in balance confidence, balance performance, and gait in debilitated, ambulatory community-dwelling older adults following participation in a home-based exercise and balance training program. However, definitive conclusions need to await validation from more rigorously designed studies before the present training program can be confidently recommended to physical therapists engaged in home care practice.
KW - Balance confidence
KW - Balance performance
KW - Balance training
KW - Debilitated community-dwelling older adults
KW - Gait
KW - Home-based exercise
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77957746810&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/JPT.0b013e3181df0035
DO - 10.1097/JPT.0b013e3181df0035
M3 - Article
C2 - 20718388
AN - SCOPUS:77957746810
SN - 1539-8412
VL - 33
SP - 85
EP - 91
JO - Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy
JF - Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy
IS - 2
ER -