title: [Gait, balance and independence rehabilitation program in elderly adults in a primary care unit].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate the effect of a supervised rehabilitation program to improve gait, balance and independence in elderly patients attending a family medicine unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  we conducted a quasi-experimental study over a period of four weeks in a group of 72 patients older than 65 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  a supervised program regarding the risk factors for falling, and balance, gait, coordination and oculovestibular system, the modalities to be done two or three times a week in the primary care unit or at home. An analysis of both tests was performed by "up and go," Tinetti scale and the Katz index.
  
  
  METHODS
  "intention to treat" and "by protocol."
  
  
  RESULTS
  mean age was 72 ± 5 years, 67.8% were female and 81.9% of the patients completed the program. A significant clinical improvement with statistical level were evident for gait and balance (p = 0.001), independence showed only clinical improvement (p = 0.083). The efficacy for periodicity (two or three times/week) and performance place showed same clinical improvement and statistical level for gait and balance (p = 0.001 to 0.003) and independence showed only clinical improvement (p = 0.317 to 0.991).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  an integral rehabilitation program improved gait, balance and clinical independence significantly. The supervised program is applicable and can be reproduced at primary care unit or home for geriatric care and preventive actions.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación Región Centro, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Distrito Federal, México, Mexico. anuk_moon@yahoo.com.mx.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Espinosa-Cuervo
authors.forename: Verónica Miriam
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: López-Roldán
authors.forename: David Alvaro
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Escobar-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conde-Embarcadero
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trejo-León
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: González-Carmona
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011996:Records; D012046:Rehabilitation
keywords: accidental falls; accidentes por caídas; adulto mayor; aged; balance postural; gait; marcha; postural balance; rehabilitación; rehabilitation