This study aims to evaluate home program exercise that adapted from Otago exercise program for fall preventing in elderly with fall risk who lived in community. The results of Time up and go test and 30 seconds chair stand were compared between pre and post 12 week exercise intervention.
This study was a Quasi-experimental research, with one group pre and post test design. Seventy participants, age between 60 - 80 years (average 72.54, SD 6.91 years) were recruited from community. They were also identified as fall risk group as the results of their time up and go test were greater than 12 seconds. The outcomes were Time up and go test and 30 seconds chair stand. All participants received home program exercise consists of strengthening, balance and flexibility exercises. The exercises were performed once a day, every day, for totally 12 weeks.
The results showed significant improvement (p 0.05) of both Time up and go test and 30 seconds chair stand at post test compared to baseline. The duration of time up and go were 14.75±6.85 at baseline and 11.99±4.53 at 12 weeks. Also, the repetitions of 30 second chair stand test was improved from 9.66±2.88 to 11.60±2.92 times.
Home program exercise with components of strengthening, balance and flexibility exercises could improve lower extremity muscle strength and balance in community elderly. The risk of falling was therefore postulated to decreased in the community elderly.
Home program exercise can be used for community elderly who are at risk for falls to improve muscle strength and balance for prevent falling. Physical therapist can use this exercise program as a guideline for management the problem of fall risk in the elderly.
risk of fall
balance and strength exercise
