Home Exercise Program Reduces Rate of Falling in At-Risk Seniors

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found an in-home exercise program cut subsequent falls among high-risk seniors by 36 percent, reports Medical Xpress . The researchers examined 344 adults 70 and older who had a history of falls, with an average of three prior falls per participant, as well as symptoms of frailty and limited mobility. Participants performed balance and resistance training exercises in their homes, using simple equipment like free weights, for three times weekly at minimum. Over six months, a physical therapist made five home visits to prescribe exercises and guarantee they were performed properly. Participants who completed the program were less likely to experience repeat falls, and also improved in certain markers of cognitive function. "Older adults who experience falls that require medical attention falls are medically complex and at high risk for both morbidity and mortality, and we demonstrated that exercise is a practical and cost-effective intervention that can improve older peoples' outcomes after a significant fall," said University of British Columbia Professor Teresa Liu-Ambrose.