Abstract

RIBEIRO, Fernando et al. Impact of regular physical exercise participation in balance, functional mobility and fall risk in institutionalized older adults. Rev. Port. Cien. Desp. [online]. 2009, vol.9, n.1, pp.36-42. ISSN 1645-0523.

The purpose of this study was to compare balance, functional mobility and the proportion of subjects in each category of fall risk based on the values of the functional tests, between trained and untrained older adults. Additionally, one aimed to determine the odds ratio of fall risk for those who did not exercise comparatively to those who did. 144 institutionalized older adults were divided into two groups: the exercise group (n=65, 76.7±8.1 years of age) composed by older adults who reported the participation in regular physical exercise during the 12 months previous to the beginning of the study (60-minute sessions, at least 3 times per week); the group that did not participate in physical exercise (n=79, 78.9±8.4 years of age). The exercise sessions were composed by aerobic, balance, coordination, flexibility and muscle strength exercises. Balance and functional mobility were assessed using the Functional Reach Test (FRT) and Timed Up & Go Test (TUG), respectively. Trained older adults (i) performed better in the balance (19.3±9.6 vs. 14.6±5.3cm; p<0.001) and functional mobility tests (13.0±4.2 vs. 17.6±7.5s; p<0.001); (ii) were less likely to be classified as in high risk of fall, based on the results of FRT (OR, 0.21, 95% CI 0.068-0.629, p=0.006), and (iii) were less likely to be classified as in risk of falling in the following 5 years, based on the results of TUG (OR, 0.27, 95% CI 0.126-0.582, p=0.001). In conclusion, trained older adults showed better balance and functional mobility, and, consequently, lower fall risk than untrained older adults.

Keywords : Elderly; balance; functional mobility; exercise; falls.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )