Article

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of seated exercises and weight-bearing (WB)
exercises with social visits on fall risk factors in older people recently
discharged from hospital. DESIGN: Twelve-week randomized, controlled trial.
SETTING: Home-based exercises. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects (N=180) aged 65 and older,
recently discharged from hospital. INTERVENTIONS: Seated exercises (n=60), WB
exercises (n=60), and social visits (n=60). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary
outcome factors were Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) fall risk score, and
balance while standing (Coordinated Stability and Maximal Balance Range tests).
Secondary outcomes included the component parts of the PPA and other physical and
psychosocial measures. RESULTS: Subjects were tested at baseline and at
completion of the intervention period. After 12 weeks of interventions, subjects
in the WB exercise group had significantly better performance than the social
visit group on the following: PPA score (P=.048), Coordinated Stability (P<.001),
Maximal Balance Range (P=.019); body sway on floor with eyes closed (P=.017); and
finger-press reaction time (P=.007) tests. The seated exercise group performed
better than the social visit group in PPA score (P=.019) but for no other outcome
factor. The seated exercise group had the highest rate of musculoskeletal
soreness. CONCLUSIONS: In older people recently discharged from the hospital,
both exercise programs reduced fall risk score in older people. The WB exercises
led to additional beneficial impacts for controlled leaning, reaction time, and
caused less musculoskeletal soreness than the seated exercises.

Langue : ANGLAIS