Proportion of participants meeting falls prevention guidelines in an evidence-based community-based exercise program

Abstract

Background

Although exercise is strongly recommended to prevent falls in older adults (exercise that challenges balance, performed three hours per week on an ongoing basis), few community-based programs meet these recommendations.

Aims

Assess the proportion of participants meeting fall prevention exercise recommendations in a community-based program and explore how adherence varies by individual characteristics and participation mode (in-person, tele-exercise, or hybrid).

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis of Zoomers in Balance participants who completed an online questionnaire about their demographic data, mode of participation, and their perceived balance intensity in a 12-week series using the Balance Intensity Scale (1-no effort at all to 5-maximal effort). Weekly attendance was self-reported after each 12-week series, and ongoing participation was assessed using registration data over one year.

Results

The average perceived balance intensity was 3.2 ± 0.7 (range 1–5), the average attendance was 1.3 ± 0.6 h/week (range 0.2–4.2), and participants attended an average of 3.4 ± 0.6 series/year (range 2–4). None of the participants met all three guidelines. The most fulfilled recommendation was ongoing participation (43%), which was greater in the hybrid (B = 2.68; p < 0.001) and tele-exercise (B = 1.28; p < 0.001) groups compared with the in-person mode. In addition, the mode of participation was associated with meeting one or more guidelines (χ² = 23.05; p < 0.001), without any significant difference between modes.

Discussion

Offering hybrid participation options could lead to greater adherence to evidence-based guidelines, thereby reducing the risk of falls.

Conclusion

The proportion of participants meeting fall prevention guidelines in a community-based program is low, with a trend indicating that hybrid options are more effective.