Instructional programmes on how to rise unassisted effectively after sustaining an incidental fall, designed specifically for the elderly: a randomized, controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
To determine the respective efficacy of two different instruction programmes designed to aid the elderly in rising unassisted after an incidental fall.


METHODS
The 12-week study covered 120 recent fallers (age range: 80-90 years) randomly split into two study groups: Group I (61 subjects; 41F, 20M), Group II (59 subjects 37F, 22M). Group I followed a programme combining safe postural shifts and the backward-chaining method, whereas Group II (controls) took part in conventional training to rise unassisted after a fall. The duration of the instructional programmes was 12 weeks. The Timed "Up & Go" and Tinetti tests were applied at baseline and on completion of the programmes to assess individual ability to rise unassisted after an incidental fall. The results in both groups were assessed with the t-Student test and the Wilcoxon test.


RESULTS
Statistically significant improvements were only noted in Group I (p<0.05) in the Timed "Up & Go" test score (27 vs. 20 sec.), Tinetti score (40% of subjects), as well as in individual ability to rise unassisted after a fall (20%-40%). No statistically quantifiable improvements were observed in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The instructional programme involving the backward-chaining method enhances individual functional capabilities, as well as tangibly aids the elderly in rising unassisted after an incidental fall.
Zak
Marek
M
Department of Clinical Rehabilitation, University of Physical Education in Krakow. mzak1@onet.eu
Skalska
Anna
A
Szczerbińska
Katarzyna
K
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis