Restoring and maintaing balance and functional abilities in older adults: ABLE BODIES Balance Improvement Project


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

5161.0: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 2:30 PM

Abstract #101855

Restoring and maintaing balance and functional abilities in older adults: ABLE BODIES Balance Improvement Project

Rachel I. Rosenberg, MPH, Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., L603, Portland, OR 97239-3098, 503-494-5353, rosenbra@ohsu.edu and Sue M. Scott, MS, Terwilliger Plaza, 9423 SE Suncrest Drive, Portland, OR 97266.

Background: The incidence of fall-related injuries increases with age and the severity of these injuries becomes more devastating. Reductions in activity levels that commonly follow injuries or a fear of falling can lead to decreases in flexibility, strength, endurance, and coordination, further deteriorating balance control. Effective exercise programming that includes multi-modal techniques has the potential to favorably impact many fall risk factors, reduce falls, and improve function, physical ability, confidence, and prospects for an active independent older life.

Methods: The efficacy of multi-modal balance improvement techniques was tested with a randomized controlled trial design over 42 weeks. Treatment sessions were once weekly for 16 weeks at four retirement and assisted living communities. Subjects (n=84) were evaluated at baseline, 16 weeks, 33 weeks, and 42 weeks. Data for balance confidence and activity levels was collected with written assessment tools. Physical performance measures were selected to evaluate key risk factors for falls. The primary analysis was a three-factor analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).

Results: Six of the 13 measures showed statistically significant interactions. The intervention significantly improved physical measures of flexibility, lower-body strength, balance, mobility, and gait speed among study subjects. The intervention had a beneficial effect on frequency of weekly physical activity.

Conclusions: The group exercise format and the selections of appropriate modes of activity contributed to the intervention's success. The intervention can be implemented using existing facilities and inexpensive equipment in small group settings to achieve improvements in balance control, reducing the risk for falling.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

1. Apply creative methods to enhance functional balance and mobility, posture and core stability, increase daily function, and reduce fall risk in the frail elderly.
2. Articulate appropriate progressions of these modalities and define ways to incorporate these techniques into traditional and integrated strength training.
3. Describe how the use of multi-modal techniques can have resounding positive effects on other dimensions of wellness for the frail elderly.

Keywords: Frail Elderly, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation

Falls Prevention and Osteoarthritis Research

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA