title: The effect of functional circuit training on self-reported fear of falling and health status in a group of physically frail older individuals: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical frailty has been regarded as a precursor state to disability and dependence on others for daily activities. Frail individuals are considered to be the group of patients that presents the most complex and challenging problems to health care professionals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a 12-week functional circuit training program (FCT) could reduce self-reported fear of falling and improve health status in a group of physically frail community-dwelling older individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one individuals (31 F, 20 M), mean age (SD) 84 (2.9) years old, were considered frail and tested at week 0 and randomly assigned into two groups (intervention group, FCT = 26; control group, CG = 25). FCT underwent a structured 12-week FCT program, which focused on a combination of functional balance and lower-body strength-based exercises. CG met once a week for health education meetings. Measures of self-reported fear of falling (Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale) and health status (SF-12) were assessed at week 0, 12 and 36. All longitudinal analyses for continuous variables that were measured at the three time points (week 0, 12 and 36) were performed using linear mixed modeling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FCT participants had greater improvements than those in the CG in fear of falling and self-reported physical function, physical composite score and mental composite score; these improvements were maintained in the week 36 follow-up, with significant group-by-time interactions by the end of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that a FCT program is effective in improving self-reported measures of fear of falling and health status in a group of physically frail individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, FPCEE Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, C/Císter 34, 08022, Barcelona, Spain. mariagg@blanquerna.url.edu
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giné-Garriga
authors.forename: Míriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Viswanath B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Unnithan
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D057566:Self Report; D016896:Treatment Outcome