Effect of a fall prevention program on balance maintenance using a quasi-experimental design in real-world settings

摘要

Objectives: To examine the effect of a fall prevention program offered under real-world conditions on balance maintenance several months after the program. To explore the program's impact on falls. Method: A quasiexperimental study was conducted among community-dwelling seniors, with pre- and postintervention measures of balance performance and selfreported falls. Ten community-based organizations offered the intervention (98 participants) and 7 recruited participants to the study's control arm (102 participants). An earlier study examined balance immediately after the 12-week program. The present study focuses on the 12-month effect. Linear regression (balance) and negative binomial regression (falls) procedures were performed. Results: During the 12-month study period, experimental participants improved and maintained their balance as reflected by their scores on three performance tests. There was no evidence of an effect on falls. Discussion: Structured group exercise programs offered in community-based settings can maintain selected components of balance for several months after the program's end.