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

doi:10.1016/j.jphys.2018.11.005

Journal of Physiotherapy

Volume 65, Issue 1, January 2019, Pages 16-22

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2018.11.005 Get rights and content

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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.

Key words

Randomised controlled trial

Exercise

Accidental falls

Goals

Aged

Cited by (0)

: eAddenda: Table 2 and Appendix 1 can be found online at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2018.11.005.

: Ethics approval: The trial was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at the University of Sydney (protocol number 14265). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their participation in the study.

: Competing interest: Nil.

: Sources of support: This work was supported by a research bequest in addition to a Marrickville Council Community Grant and funding from the NSW Office of Communities, Sport and Recreation Participation and Facility Program. JO is supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brazil. CS holds a Research Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australia. AT holds a Career Development Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australia.