[Effects of a training of power and balance on the use of mechanical restraint among in-patients with dementia].
BACKGROUND
Patients with dementia are most frequently affected by mechanical restraint in psychiatric hospitals, most frequently due to falls. There is evidence for beneficial effects of a training of power and balance on the frequency of falls in residential homes.


METHODS
An adapted training of power and balance was developed by specialists of training in sports. In 2007, 159 patients with dementia were trained. The frequency and duration of mechanical restraint was compared with a control group of a different hospital (n = 217) and the patients treated in the year before (n = 164).


RESULTS
The percentage of patients with mechanical restraint and the mean duration of restraint per admission were significantly lower than in the control group. However, only a non-significant reduction could be achieved in comparison with the patients treated in the year before without an increase of falls.


CONCLUSIONS
A considerable reduction of the use of mechanical restraint in patients with dementia is feasible. An unequivocal association with the training could not be confirmed due to other influencing factors.
Zentrum für Psychiatrie Weissenau, Abt. Psychiatrie I der Universität Ulm, Germany. tilman.steinert@zfp-weissenau.de
Tilman
T
Steinert
Ulrich
U
Bohnet
Erich
E
Flammer
Dietmar
D
Lüchtenberg
Frank
F
Eisele
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055070:Resistance Training; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data