[Mobility and safety for elderly (MoSi), a new intervention to improve mobility and gait in elderly people].
BACKGROUND
"Mobility and safety for the elderly (MoSi)") is a new intervention, especially designed for elderly people with gait disorders and for fallers.


METHODS
165 persons, 65 years or older, participated in this study.The participants were assessed prior to and after the 5-week intervention. The intervention included various elements of strength and balance training, stretching, reaction and coordination training, and information. The participants were instructed about how to prevent falls and what measures to take after a fall has occurred. Furthermore, they were taught home exercises. The intervention was set in an ambulatory physiotherapy department and consisted of 10 training sessions.


RESULTS
Participants reported improved performance of gait (66 %), gait security (66 %), power (65 %), balance (62 %), sense of security (61 %) capacity (70 %) and well being (63 %).The Berg Balance Scale and the Balance test of the "Tinetti Balance Scale" showed significant improvements (p<.001). The Timed Up and Go Test, the gait test of the Tinetti Balance Scale showed improvements in persons with very impaired gait (p<.005). The Repeated Chair Stands Test showed no significant improvements. 137 (95 %) of the participants stated they would continue the exercises at home, 112 (79 %) stated they would continue the exercises under therapeutic supervision.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that the intervention is able to improve mobility and gait of elderly persons, subjectively and objectively, especially of persons with impaired gait. The motivation effect of the intervention was high which was marked by the large number of participants which wanted to continue their exercises at home. Furthermore, the intervention resulted in participants reporting improvements in other parameters such as capacity and well being.


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention is able to improve important measures of balance in community dwelling older people. However, the effect on the number of falls still has to be investigated. The intervention is suitable for an ambulatory setting and shows significant effects after a short time. Due to the intervention's compactness it is appropriate for persons who normally would avoid training programs because of the duration.
Bauer
Christoph
C
Klinik für Geriatrie und geriatrische Rehabilitation, Waldkrankenhaus St. Marien, Rathsberger Strasse 57, Erlangen, Germany. christoph.bauer79@gmx.net
Rietsch
Christine
C
Gröger
Ines
I
Gassmann
K G
KG
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome