The Effectiveness of a Community-Based Exercise Program on Balance Performance and Fear of Falling in Older Non-Fallers at Risk of Falling: A Randomized, Controlled Study.

Abstract
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a community-based Exercise for Balance Improvement Program (ExBP) on dynamic balance (DB), static balance with compromised sensations, and fear of falling (FF) among older non-fallers. Sixty-one participants (70 ± 3 years) at risk of falling were randomly allocated to receive 16 weeks' practice of ExBP (n = 20), Tai Chi (TC; n = 20), or no treatment (CON; n = 21) with an 8-week follow-up afterwards. Significant improvements in ExBP group showed in DB (2.18, 95%CI = 1.16-3.19), static balance with compromised vision and somatosensation (ECSS; .46, 95%CI = .06-.85), and FF (8.65, 95%CI = .52-16.8). After intervention, ExBP showed significantly more improvements than CON in DB, static balance with compromised somatosensation, and ECSS. No significant differences were found between ExBP and TC. Therefore, ExBP can be applied as an effective and substitute exercise for improving balance and falls efficacy for older non-fallers.
PMID: 26796916