BETTER TRAINING METHOD AMONGST TWO IN REDUCING RISK OF SLIP RELATED FALLS IN ELDERLY

Abstract

Objective: Better training method amongst two in reducing risk of slip related falls in elderly.

Background: A significant health threat facing the older population is their increasing susceptibility to falling with increasing age .In 1999, accidental falls were the 7^thleading cause of death for adults age 65 and older in the US.  Falls are associated with considerable mortality, morbidity, reduced functioning, and pre-mature nursing home admissions. 31% of the community dwelling elders are at risk of falling.It estimated that one in three persons over the age of 65 is likely to fall at least once a year. While young children may fall more frequently than elderly individuals, the injury rate, particularly for serious injuries, is higher among the elderly. Approximately 50% of older people in residential care facilities fall at least once a year and upto 40% fall more than once a year.

Study design: Experimental study 

Methods: 30 subjects were selected through convenient sampling. Two subjects were drop out from the study as they have problem in managing time to attend the intervention sessions daily. After having the informed consent of 28 subjects and fulfillment of inclusion criteria systematic randomization was done for the subjects and assigned to the particular group according to their sequence of approach  i.e. 1^st,3^rd,5^th 7^th etc in group I and 2^nd,4^th,6^th,8^th etc in group II. All the subjects underwent a single intervention session per day having 3 repetitions during each session for three week.

Results: pre and post intervention values of mean, standard deviation & means difference of all the subjects of group A and group B on berg balance scale. pre and post intervention within the group comparisons for both the groups on berg balances scale. The pre and post intervention results obtained show a significant difference in the values of berg balance scale. the within the group comparison of pre and post intervention scores of group A and group B on timed up and go test. The results obtained from both the groups shows a significant difference in pre and post intervention values for timed up and go test.

Conclusion: We concluded that even though both the intervention strategies are equally efficient in slip related fall reduction but low friction surface training proved more efficient slip reduction strategy when measured over Timed up & Go.

Key words: mortality, morbidity, central nervous system, training, health threat