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Impact of a Fall-Prevention Exercise Program on Balance, Gait, Lower Limb Strength, and Psychosocial Characteristics in Older Adults with Dementia

  • Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
  • Abbr : J Korean Soc Phys Med
  • 2019, 14(1), pp.75-89
  • DOI : 10.13066/kspm.2019.14.1.75
  • Publisher : The Korean Society of Physical Medicine
  • Research Area : Medicine and Pharmacy > Physical Therapy > Other physical therapy
  • Received : October 22, 2018
  • Accepted : November 27, 2018
  • Published : February 28, 2019

Gi-young Choi 1 Suhnyeop Kim ORD ID 2

1대전대 보건의료대학원 물리치료학과
2대전대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study measured the impact of a 12-week fall-prevention exercise program on balance, ambulatory ability, lower limb strength, and psychosocial characteristics in older adults diagnosed with dementia. METHODS: The participants comprised 31 older adults (9 men, 22 women) diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia at a long-term care hospital located in Gunsan City. A fall-prevention exercise program was provided to the experimental group, while the control group was only provided with instruction and materials related to the fall-prevention exercise program. The participants were evaluated before the intervention, 6 weeks after the intervention, and 12 weeks after the intervention on static and dynamic balance abilities (using Timed Up and Go test: TUG, Tinetti-balance scale, one-leg standing test: OLS), gait (Tinetti-balance scale, 6-minute walk test: 6MWT), lower limb strength (sit to stand test; STS), and psychosocial characteristics (Short Form 36 Health Survey-Korean version, Korean Mini-Mental State Exam). RESULTS: An independent samples t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance were used for the statistical analysis. There were statistically significant improvements after the intervention (p<.05) in dynamic balance abilities (TUG and OLS using the left foot), gait (6MWT), and lower limb strength (STS) for the experimental group, but not for the control group. No difference was seen in psychosocial characteristics. CONCLUSION: Older adults with dementia who participated in the fall-prevention exercise program showed significant improvements in their static and dynamic balance abilities, lower limb strength, and ambulatory ability after the intervention.

Citation status

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