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Sohng, Moon, Song, Lee, and Kim: Fall Prevention Exercise Program for Fall Risk Factor Reduction of the Community-Dwelling Elderly in Korea
Original Article
Yonsei Medical Journal

Yonsei Medical Journal 2003; 44(5): 883-891.

Published online: 30 March 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2003.44.5.883

Fall Prevention Exercise Program for Fall Risk Factor Reduction of the Community-Dwelling Elderly in Korea

Kyeong Yae Sohng1, Jung Soon Moon1, Hae Hiang Song2, Kwang Soo Lee3, Young Sook Kim4

1College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Nursing, Seoul, Korea.

2Department of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

3Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

4Department of Social Work, Sahm Yook University, Seoul, Korea.

Reprint address: requests to Kyeong-Yae Sohng, RN, Ph.D., College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea, 505 Banpo-dong, Socho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Korea. Tel: 82-2-590-1292, Fax: 82-2-590-1297, sky@catholic.ac.kr

Received 26 February 2003       Accepted 3 July 2003

Copyright © 2003 The Yonsei University College of Medicine

Abstract

A randomized comparison of pre-and post-experimental design was used to examine the effects of a fall prevention exercise program (FPEP) on muscle strength, ankle flexibility, balance, instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and depression for the community-dwelling elderly in Korea. Twenty-two subjects were assigned to an experimental group and twenty-three to a control group. The experimental group participated in a 4-day-per week FPEP of 8 weeks duration, twice a week by direct instruction and twice a week with videotaped instruction by the program instructor at each senior center.
The eight-week FPEP turned out to be significantly effective in enhancing muscle strength, ankle flexibility and balance, and in reducing depression, after intervention among community-dwelling elderly in Korea. IADLs, however, was not changed by the intervention.
Further research with a larger sample and longer follow up period is needed to expand our understanding about the effects of FPEP. Future study is also recommended to differentiate between the effects of FPEP by direct instruction and by videotaped.

Keywords: Fall prevention exercise program, muscle strength, ankle flexibility, balance, elderly

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