Targeting the Hip Abductors to Reduce Falls in Older Veterans Through A Virtual Multimodal Balance Intervention
VA Office of Research and Development
Summary
Falls are a major health concern and a leading cause of injurious death and non-fatal injuries in older Veterans who are at greater risk for falls than non-Veterans. This in-person exercise intervention targeting changes in the hip muscles, known to play a major role in balance, has been effective at reducing falls in older Veterans. Gerofit is a VA best practice health promotion program that demonstrates good success in engaging Veterans in exercise. However, the role of Gerofit in fall prevention is unknown. Some Veterans may require additional training prior to participation in Gerofit to maximize the benefits of Gerofit. The proposed intervention will use novel home-based methods of exercise to improve hip muscles prior to participating in Gerofit. The goal of this study is to evaluate if a live virtual home-based multimodal balance intervention done prior to Gerofit compared to Gerofit alone will have a greater benefit on fall risk reduction and improved muscle and mobility function.
Description
Falls are multifactorial in origin, with a failure to negotiate environmental hazards, muscle weakness, impaired postural control, and gait and balance deficits among the top contributors. Common between these is impaired lower extremity function, including difficulties during walking, incident slips and trips, or an inability to effectively recover after a loss of balance. The multifactorial origin of falls requires a multimodal approach to effectively reduce risk. The CDC currently includes 17 exercise interventions targeting fall reduction, and most of these programs reportedly decrease fal…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 65+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Veteran Status * 65 years or older * VA primary Care provider * Enrolled in the VA Maryland Health Care System for health care * At risk for Falls Exclusion Criteria: * Poorly controlled hypertension * Home oxygen use * Contraindications to exercise or resistance exercise * Significant cognitive impairment * Other medical condition precluding patient participation in this study as per medical judgment of study team
Interventions
- OtherMulit-modality Balance Intervention
Participants will attend a virtual group balance class that focuses on movement and obstacle negotiation 3 times per week for 3-months
- OtherGerofit
Participation in a virtual wellness program that consists of a warm up, aerobic training, and general strength training 3-times per week for up to 12 months
Location
- Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MDBaltimore, Maryland