A combined physical activity and fall prevention intervention improved mobility-related goal attainment but not physical activity in older adults: a randomised trial

Questions: In people aged ≥ 60 years, does a combined physical activity and fall prevention intervention affect physical activity and mobility-related goal attainment? Does the combined intervention also improve fall rates, daily steps, the proportion of people meeting the physical activity guidelines, quality of life, mood, fear of falling, and mobility limitation? Design: Randomised trial with concealed allocation, intention-to-treat analysis and assessor blinding. Participants: One hundred and thirty-one people living in the community and aged ≥ 60 years. Interventions: The experimental group received one physiotherapist visit, fortnightly telephone-based health coaching, a pedometer, tailored fall prevention advice, and a fall prevention brochure. The control group received the same fall prevention brochure. Outcome measures: Primary outcomes were mobility goal attainment (Goal Attainment Scale) and objectively measured physical activity (accelerometer counts per minute) at 6 and 12 months. Secondary outcomes were falls, other physical activity measures, quality of life, fear of falling, mood, and mobility. Results: Participants had a mean age of 71 years (SD 6.5) and 31 (24%) had fallen in the past year. The experimental group reported significantly better mobility goal attainment at 6 months compared to controls (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.7) but this was not maintained at 12 months (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.6 to 2.1). Physical activity counts were not significantly different between groups at 6 months (MD 13 counts/minute, 95% CI −98 to 124) or 12 months (MD 56 counts/minute, 95% CI −14 to 125). There were no significant between-group differences in the secondary outcomes. Conclusion: A combined physical activity and fall prevention intervention was associated with significantly higher mobility goal attainment at 6 months. There was no significant impact on physical activity but future investigation in a larger trial is warranted. Trial registration: ACTRN12614000016639. Key words: Randomised controlled trial, Exercise, Accidental falls, Goals, Aged