Effect of the Otago Programme Delivered as Home Exercise or Group Exercise

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The study aims to assess the effect on functional balance of Otago exercise performed as home exercise versus group exercise. The investigators hypothesize that Otago exercise is more effective performed as group exercise than home exercise.

Detailed Description
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The study sample is drawn from persons referred to a falls outpatient clinic. Group exercise and home exercise are delivered by trained physiotherapists. Home exercise follows the original Otago exercise protocol. Group exercise is performed twice a week. The length of the intervention period is 3 months. The main outcome measure is the Berg Balance Scale.

Official Title
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A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effect of Otago Exercise Delivered as Home Exercise or Group Exercise in Fall-prone Older Persons

Conditions
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Accidental Falls, Distorted Balance

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Group exercise
* Behavioral: Home exercise


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: referred to an outpatient falls clinic have fallen previous year or have gait or balance problems Exclusion Criteria: Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) < 22 Not able to walk 10 m without support from another person

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

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


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Group exercise<br>Otago exercise performed in groups | Behavioral: Group exercise<br>* Otago exercise performed in groups of 4-8 patients, 2 times a week over 12 weeks<br>|
| Active Comparator: Home exercise<br>Otago exercise performed as home exercise | Behavioral: Home exercise<br>* Otago exercise performed as home exercise 3 times a weeks over 12 weeks. Individually tailored physical balance and muscle strength exercise<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Functional Balance by use of the Berg Balance Scale |  | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fear of falling by the Fall Efficacy Scale International (FES-I), 7 item version |  | 3 and 6 months | 
| Mobility by the Timed Get up-and-go |  | 3 and 6 months | 
| Functional leg muscle strength by a Sit-to-stand test | Number of raise-up trials in 30 sec, picked from the Senior Fitness test | 3 and 6 months | 
| Health related quality of life by the Short Formular 36 (SF-36) |  | 3 and 6 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Older persons, Exercise, Balance