Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between length of participation in
Steady As You Go (SAYGO) peer-led fall prevention exercise classes for older
adults and 12-month fall incidence. DESIGN: Twelve-month prospective cohort
study. SETTING: Community settings. PARTICIPANTS: Older adults (N=207; 189 women,
18 men) aged >/= 65 y (mean age +/- SD, 77.7 +/- 6.6 y) actively participating in
SAYGO classes. INTERVENTION: Peer-led fall prevention exercise classes. MAIN
OUTCOME MEASURES: Twelve-month prospective fall incidence data were collected by
monthly calendars. Falls in the previous year and number of years of SAYGO
participation were obtained by baseline questionnaire. Class attendance was
monitored weekly by class attendance records. RESULTS: Mean length +/- SD of
SAYGO participation was 4.3 +/- 2.5 years (range, 1-10 y). Average class
attendance was 69%. Crude fall rate was .75 per person-year. Fall incidences at
12 and 24 months were highly correlated (r=.897, P<.001). Longer SAYGO
participation (>/= 3 y) resulted in a lower 12-month fall incidence (incidence
rate ratio, .90; 95% confidence interval, .82-.99; P=.03) compared with a shorter
duration of participation (1-2 y). CONCLUSIONS: SAYGO appears to be an effective
fall prevention intervention with a high attendance rate and a lower fall
incidence with long-term participation. Prospective controlled studies on
long-term participation in peer-led fall prevention exercise programs are needed
to confirm and extend these findings.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS