journal articles
DAILY PHYSIOTHERAPEUTIC EXERCISE FOR NURSING HOME RESIDENTS WITH ACTUAL FALL RISK; FEASIBILITY AND EFFECT ON FALL FREQUENCY AND ENDURANCE. A MULTICENTER BEFORE-AFTER DESIGN
R.B. Veenhuizen, T. Hogeveen, L.W. van Buul, E.M. Wattel, C.M.P.M. Hertogh
Jour Nursing Home Res 2016;2:94-96
In this study exercise is investigated as preventive action for falling. Frequently falling nursing home residents exercised for 2 months on a daily basis under the guidance of a physiotherapist, who measured endurance with the 6 minute walking test, and kept a track record of falling incidents and attendance to the exercise group. 15 Nursing homes participated in this study. A total of 63 residents with falls in the previous 2 months enrolled in the study. The number of falls decreased from 67 per month to 25 in the second month of the intervention and to 43 in the first month after cessation of the intervention. The majority of the patients had a significant increase in endurance. This study suggests that a moderately intensive exercise program may lead to a significant reduction of falls. Further research, involving a control group, is warranted to support these findings.
CITATION:
R.B. Veenhuizen ; T. Hogeveen ; L.W. van Buul ; E.M. Wattel ; C.M.P.M. Hertogh (2016): Daily physiotherapeutic exercise for nursing home residents with actual fall risk; feasibility and effect on fall frequency and endurance. A multicenter before-after design. The Journal of Nursing Home Research Science (JNHRS). http://dx.doi.org/10.14283/jnhrs.2016.14