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

Juliana S Oliveira; Catherine Sherrington; Serene S Paul; Elisabeth Ramsay; Kathryn Chamberlain; Catherine Kirkham; Sandra D O'Rourke; Leanne Hassett; Anne Tiedemann

doi:10.1016/j.jphys.2018.11.005

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

J Physiother. 2019 Jan;65(1):16-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jphys.2018.11.005. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Authors

Juliana S Oliveira¹, Catherine Sherrington², Serene S Paul³, Elisabeth Ramsay², Kathryn Chamberlain², Catherine Kirkham², Sandra D O'Rourke², Leanne Hassett⁴, Anne Tiedemann²

Affiliations

¹ Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia; Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: juliana.oliveira@sydney.edu.au.
² Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia; Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, Sydney, Australia.
³ Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia.
⁴ Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia; Institute for Musculoskeletal Health, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 30581138
DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2018.11.005

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Accidental falls; Aged; Exercise; Goals; Randomised controlled trial.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Accelerometry
Accidental Falls / prevention & control*
Activities of Daily Living
Aged
Combined Modality Therapy
Exercise*
Female
Goals
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Mobility Limitation
Quality of Life
Surveys and Questionnaires