Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs > v.44(6) > 1003035

Bae and Cho: Effects of Community-based Comprehensive Fall Prevention Program on Muscle Strength, Postural Balance and Fall Efficacy in Elderly People

Abstract

Purpose

The purposes of this study was to develop a comprehensive community-based fall prevention program and to test the effects of the program on the muscle strength, postural balance and fall efficacy for elderly people.

Methods

The design of this study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. There were 28 participants in the experimental group and 29 in the control group. The program consisted of balance exercises, elastic resistance exercises and prevention education. The program was provided five times a week for 8 weeks and each session lasted 90 minutes. Data were analyzed using χ2-test, independent t-test and paired t-test using the SPSS program.

Results

Muscle strength of the lower extremities, postural balance and fall efficacy scores significantly improved in the experimental group compared to the control group.

Conclusion

These results suggest that this program can improve lower extremity muscle strength, postural balance and fall efficacy in elders. Therefore, this program is recommended for use in fall prevention programs for elders living in the community.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Effects of exercise on muscle power, postural balance and fall efficacy between the experiment and control groups.
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Table 1
Contents of the Fall Prevention Program
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Table 2
Homogeneity of General Characteristics and Dependent Variables (N=57)
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Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

Table 3
Differences in Muscle Power, Postural Balance and Fall Efficacy between the Experimental and Control Groups
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p≤ .05; Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

Notes

This work was supported by the 2013 Inje University research grant.

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