1. Quasi-experimental pilot study to improve mobility and balance in recurrently falling nursing home residents by voluntary non-targeted side-stepping exercise intervention
- Author
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Frédéric Dierick, Anne-France Bouché, Serge Guérin, Jean-Paul Steinmetz, Carine Federspiel, Vincent Barvaux, and Fabien Buisseret
- Subjects
Falls ,Prevention ,Walking ,Exercise ,Training ,Rehabilitation ,Geriatrics ,RC952-954.6 - Abstract
Abstract Background Side-stepping is a potential exercise program to reduce fall risk in community-dwelling adults in their seventies, but it has never been tested in nursing home residents. This was a pilot quasi-experimental study to examine the feasibility and potential mobility and balance benefits of an intervention based on voluntary non-targeted side-stepping exercises in nursing home residents who fall recurrently. Methods Twenty-two participants were recruited and non-randomly assigned to an intervention group ( $$n=$$ n = 11, side-stepping exercises, STEP) participating in an 8-week protocol and to a control group ( $$n =$$ n = 11, usual physiotherapy care, CTRL). They were clinically assessed at 4-time points: baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks, and after a 4-week follow-up period (usual physiotherapy care). Statistical differences between time points were assessed with a Friedman repeated measures ANOVA on ranks or a one-way repeated measures ANOVA. Results Compared to baseline, significant benefits were observed in the STEP group at 8 weeks for the Timed Up and Go ( $$p =$$ p = 0.020) and 6-minute walking test ( $$p =$$ p = 0.001) as well as for the Berg Balance Scale ( $$p =$$ p = 0.041) and Mini motor test ( $$p =$$ p = 0.026). At follow-up, the Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment and Berg Balance Scale significantly worsened in the STEP group ( $$p =$$ p = 0.009 and $$p
- Published
- 2022
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