Effect of a 6-Week Balance Exercise Program on Fall Risk in Older Adults
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62464/2tsnf612Keywords:
Balance training, Falls prevention, Older adults, Functional mobilityAbstract
Background: Falls in older adults are a leading cause of morbidity, functional decline, and reduced independence. Although balance training is widely recommended, evidence supporting the effectiveness of short-term structured programs in community-dwelling older populations remains limited.
Objective: To evaluate the effects of a 6-week supervised balance exercise program on balance performance, functional mobility, and fall-related self-efficacy in community-dwelling older adults.
Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 80 adults aged ≥65 years were allocated to either an intervention group (n = 40) or a control group (n = 40). The intervention group received supervised balance training three times weekly for six weeks, incorporating static, dynamic, functional, and dual-task exercises, while the control group received usual care. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and post-intervention using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and Falls Efficacy Scale–International (FES-I). Between-group differences and within-group changes were analyzed with significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: Baseline demographic, clinical, sensory, and fall-history characteristics were comparable between groups. After 6 weeks, the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements compared with controls in balance (BBS: +7.2 ± 3.1 vs +0.2 ± 1.0; mean difference 7.0 points, 95% CI: 6.2–8.2), functional mobility (TUG: −2.4 ± 0.9 s vs −0.1 ± 0.5 s; mean difference 2.3 s, 95% CI: −2.7 to −2.1), and fear of falling (FES-I: −8.1 ± 4.5 vs −0.2 ± 1.0; mean difference 7.9 points, 95% CI: −9.5 to −6.7) (all p < 0.001). No significant changes were observed in the control group. The intervention was well tolerated, with full adherence and no reported adverse events.
Conclusion: A 6-week supervised balance exercise program resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in balance, mobility, and fall-related self-efficacy in community-dwelling older adults. These findings support its role as a safe and effective short-term intervention within fall-prevention strategies, although longer-term studies are warranted to determine sustainability of benefits.
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