RESEARCH REPORT POSTER DISPLAY

EFFECTS OF AN EXERCISE PROGRAM FOR FALL PREVENTION: A FOLLOW-UP STUDY IN A FARMING AREA IN JAPAN. Fujii A, Nakamura I, Asami I, Kage H, Wada M; Yamaguchi Health and Welfare College

PURPOSE: It is well known that there is a close linkage between a habit of daily physical exercise and fall prevention for elderly people. It is important to take into account the fact that there may be regional differences in daily exercise habits and lifestyles. Generally it is assumed that elders in farming areas have high physical mobility and are more active. This study focused on two questions: Does a physical therapist-directed exercise program have a long-term carryover effect on the mobility and activity level of elderly Japanese people living in farming areas? What kind of daily exercise habits are related to reduced risk of falls in these elders? RELEVANCE: This study contributes to a deeper understanding of physical changes and the relationship between daily exercise habits and fall in elders who live in farming area. In addition considering lack of follow-up study on physical mobility of the elders in Japan, this study may determine the long-term carry over effect of a physical therapist-directed exercise program. PARTICIPANTS: 23 females with a mean age of 81.9 years ±3.5 (age range, 74-89 years).All participants who gave written informed consent to participate in the study live in a farming area in Yamaguchi Prefecture,. Participants attended a physical therapist-directed exercise program at an Elderly Health Care Facility 2 times a month for three months. METHODS: Physical examination and measurements included a physician exam, grip strength, back muscle strength, 10-meter gait time, 10-meter gait steps, tandem gait and stand up from a 20-, 30-, and 40-centimeter height seat. Participants were examined three times: before the exercise program began; immediately after the exercise program ended; and two years after the initial examination (21 month after the program ended). At the final examination, participants were asked about their daily exercise habits and fall history for the past two years. ANALYSIS: One-factor repeated-measures ANOVA was used to compare the 3 sets of measures. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in grip strength, 10-meter gait steps, tandem gait and stand up from 20-, 30-, and 40-centimeter height step. Back muscle strength (p = 0.014) and 10- meter gait time (p = 0.004) showed significant differences. In answer to questioning about their daily exercise habits, 21 participants did regular exercise including farm work, and 12 participants stated that their main exercise was agricultural practice. Two of the 23 participants stated that they had fallen once in the previous two years. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that a habit of daily physical exercise might have contributed to maintaining physical mobility and preventing falls for elders who live in farming areas, and that agricultural activities are as effective as other exercise. The program for fall prevention might have motivated the participants to continue these activities or other exercise for two years after the program. IMPLICATIONS: Further research may include repeating the study in urban areas to define urban elders’ needs relative to exercise and the timing, and duration, as well as concrete strategies for reducing risk of falls. KEYWORDS: physical exercise program, fall prevention, elders who live in farming areas. FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This work was unfunded. CONTACT: a-fujii@yic.ac.jp