Action Seniors! Exercise to Prevent Falls

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study will be a randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of the Otago Exercise Program (OEP) on falls among seniors with a history of falls.

Detailed Description
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A total of 344 community-dwelling adults aged 70 years and older who are referred to a falls clinic secondary to seeking medical attention due to a fall will be randomized to either the 12-month OEP group or usual care. There will be three measurement sessions: baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.

Official Title
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Action Seniors!: A 12 Month Randomized Controlled Trial of a Home Based Strength and Balance Retraining Program in Reducing Falls.

Conditions
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Falls

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Home-based balance and strength retraining exercise program.
* Behavioral: control; usual care


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Adults older than or 70 years attending a Falls Prevention Clinic Service; Understands, speaks, and reads English proficiently; MMSE 8 score > 24/30; Had one documented non-syncopal fall in the last 12 months and one of the following: a) A Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) score of at least 1 SD above normal; OR 2) Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) performance of greater than 15 seconds; OR 3) One additional documented non-syncopal fall in the previous 12 months; Expected to live greater than 12 months; Community-dwelling (i.e., not residing in a nursing home, extended care unit, or assisted-care facility); Able to walk 3 meters with or without an assistive device; and Able to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease (e.g., Parkinson's disease); Diagnosed with dementia (of any type); Had a stroke; Have clinically significant peripheral neuropathy or severe musculoskeletal or joint disease; or Have a history indicative of carotid sinus sensitivity (i.e., syncopal falls).

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 70 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 1<br>OEP (Otago Exercise Program; home-based balance and strength retraining program) | Behavioral: Home-based balance and strength retraining exercise program.<br>* A 12-month home-based balance and strength restraining program delivered by a physical therapist<br>|
| Active Comparator: 2<br>CON (control; usual care) | Behavioral: control; usual care<br>* Usual care as prescribed by geriatrician.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Falls over a 12 month period. |  | 12 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Secondary outcomes of interest include: 1) physiological falls risk; 2) mobility; 3) cognitive function; and 4) economic evaluation. |  | 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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falls, balance training, strength training