The effect of physiotherapy interventions on the risk of falling in residents at St Vincent de Paul residence

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Old people participate in exercise programmes to reduce the risk of falling but literature on the effectiveness of physiotherapy intervention in residential homes is lacking. OBJECTIVES: To determine if physiotherapy intervention is effective at decreasing the risk of falling in institutionalised older adults To determine whether balance exercises on an individual basis was superior to the same exercise being carried out in a class setting DESIGN: A Randomized Controlled Trial Model SETTING: Long Term Care Residence SUBJECTS: 75 males and 75 females living in the residence at moderate risk of falling after being assessed pre intervention using the Berg Balance Test, the Timed Get Up and Go and the Modified Palls Efficacy Scale. METHOD: The study population was randomly assigned into three groups; A,13 an<l C. Group A performed one to one balance exercises. Group B performed the same exercises in a group setting and Group C was the control and performed no intervention All three groups were given an educational leaflet. The mtervent1on took place for 12 weeks, 3 times a week for a duration of 45 minutes each session. All groups were then re assessed post intervention using the same scales used pre intervention. RESULTS: Both types of exercise intervention showed a significant improvement in the resident's performance. The class Group B showed significantly more improvement than group A Group C showed least improvement. Gender allocation did not show any variance in results obtained. CONCLUSION: The results provide evidence that participants taking part in the physiotherapy intervention achieved a significant improvement in the risk of falling. Group exercise therapy is superior to the traditional one to one exercises for improving the risk of failing.