Why not use your own body weight to prevent falls? A randomized, controlled trial of balance therapy to prevent falls and fractures for elderly people who can stand on one leg for ≤15 s

Abstract

Background

Maintaining or improving motor (balance) ability is essential to extending the healthy lifespan of elderly people, and developing effective and efficient strategies to prevent falls of elderly people is an urgent. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of balance exercise on fall and fracture prevention for elderly people with poor balance.

Methods

A 6-month, randomized controlled trial was conducted to verify whether one-leg standing with eyes open for a total of 1 min, three times a day (dynamic flamingo exercise) prevents falls and fractures. Setting and participants were elderly people ≥75 years of age and one-leg standing time ≤15.0 s living in their own home. They were visiting orthopaedic clinics for orthopaedic handicaps. Subjects with poor balance were allowed to hold on to something. If a subject’s lifted leg touched the ground during the exercise, they were allowed to lift it again and continue so that they stood on one leg for a total of 60 s.

Results

The dynamic flamingo exercise group (410 people; 86 men, 324 women) and the no exercise group (455 people; 78 men, 377 women) were compared. After dynamic flamingo exercise for 6 months, significant differences were seen in the increase in one-leg standing time with eyes open (men right/left, women right/left), in the improvement in independence in daily living (women), number of people who fell during the 6 months (women), and adverse events (women). The number of fractures was not significantly different for men or women.

Conclusions

Dynamic flamingo exercise prevents falls but no significant difference was demonstrated in fracture prevention in elderly women with poor balance.

Appendix: Principal Clinical sites

Furukawabashi Hospital, Kimuramorokado Hospital, Takatsu Chuoh Hospital, Kamiitabashi Dai2 Hospital, Nishikamata Clinic, Kyoudou Clinic, Kuchiishi Hospital, Kobayashi Clinic, Tsurumaki Orthopaedic Clinic, Sawatari Clinic, Kayama Orthopaedic Clinic, Musashiyamato Orthopaedic Clinic, Suzuki Orthopaedic Clinic, Sekimizu Orthopaedic Clinic, Central Hospital, Sakura Orthopaedic & Rehabilitation Hospital, Fukuzawa Orthopaedic Clinic, Furuoka Orthopaedic Clinic, Maeda Hospital, Yoshimura Orthopaedic Clinic, Chouritu Ogano Central Hospital, Tomakomai Hospital, Toyooka-Central Hospital, Hirosaki City Hospital, Iwate Medical University, Tokyo Kyousai Hospital, Yonehara-Central Hospital, Tokyo Jikeikai Medical University, Toho University Oohashi Hospital, Tokyo Metropolitan Rehabilitation Hospital, Kugayama Hospital, Washiya Hospital, Dokyou Medical University, Rounenbyo-Kenkyusyo Hospital, Shirogane Orthopaedic Hospital, Kikkouman Clinic, Shinnkawabashi Hospital, Yamanashi Prefectural Hospital, Nirasaki City Hospital, Fukui University, Gifu University, Ohgaki Central Hospital, Kouritu Morinomachi Hospital, Mie University, Yamada Orthopaedic Hospital, Maizuru Red-Closs Hospital, PL Hospital, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, Kinki University Sakai Hospital, Kobe 100 Nen Kinen Hospital, Kouritu Toyo-oka Hospital, Hyougo Medical University, Mimuro Prefectural Hospital, Nara Rehabilitation Centre, Misasa Onsen Hospital, Sanin Rosai Hospital, Kaike Onsen Hospital, Okayama University, Cyugoku Denryoku Hospital, Kosei Sogou Hospital, Kagawa Rosai Hospital, Tosa City Hospital, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Sinal Cord Injury Centre, Kawashima Orthopaedic Hospital, Ohita Orthopaedic Hospital, Kumamoto University, Miyazaki University, Nichinan Hospital, Komaki Hospital, Iida Hospital, Showa University, Kouritsu Tan-Nan Hospital, Showa University Yokohama Hokubu Hospital, Hiraosaki Kinenn Hospital, Teikyou University Chiba Medical Centre, Shiota Sogo Hospital, Sekigawara Hospital, Tsusima City Hospital, Minamikawa Orthopaedic Hospital, Isahaya Sogo Hospital, Tkachiho-Mmachi Hospital, Kusimaoto Hospital, Momotake Orthopaedic Hospital, Kumamoto Kino Hospital, Kitade Hospital, Uguisu-Yado Onsen Hospital, Hachiya Orthopaedic Hospital, Yonago Medical Centre, Seibu Shimane Medical Centre, Hiroshima Tetsudo Hospital, Moji Rosai Hospital, Kimachi Rehabilitation Hospital, Ohta Sogo Hospital, Sapporo Eikeigeka-Jyunkanki Hospital, Aomaori Prefectural Hamanasu Medical Centre, Edogawa Hospital, Gamagouri City Hospital, Suga Orthopaedic Hospital, Tamana Central Hospital, Kijima Orthopaedic Clinic, Seigo Clinic, Niigata Rehabilitation Hospital, Nakamura Orthopaedic Clinic, Murai Orthopaedic Hospital, Noto Orthopaedic Clinic, Nakayama Orthopaedic Clinic, Asai Orthopaedic Clinic, Yanagi Orthopaedic Clinic, Kojima Orthopaedic Clinic, Ishizaka Orthopaedic Clinic, YUkiyoshi Clinic, Takahashi Orthopaedic Clinic, Ohkawa Clinic, Motomachi Hospital, Iwate Medical University Hanamaki Onsen Hospital, MIzuhara-Go Hospital, Nissan Tamagawa Hospital, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tomizawa Hospital, Sato Hospital, Ehime National Hospital, Ishikawa Prefectural Central Hospital, Chikuma Central Hospital, Ohta Hospital, Mazda Hospital, Ube Kyouritu Hospital, Yokohama City University, Kusunoki Orthopaedic Clinic, Nezu Orthopaedic Clinic, Kubota Orthopaedic Clinic, Saiseikai Otaru Hospital, National Hirosaki Hospital, Sanai Hoppital, Yamanaka Onsen Hospital, Sakasita Hospital, Yoshida Orthopaedic Clinic, Jinsen Onsen-Kaigo Rehabilitation, Suzuka Central Hospital, National Kochi Hospital, Ohita Jyunkannki Hospital, Honma Orthopaedic Clinic, Ishii Clinic, Niigata Prefectural Kamo Hospital, Kuwana Hospital, Nishi Niigata Central Hospital, Akishima Hospital, Namekawa Hospital, Kita Orthopaedic Clinic, Sanyudo Hospital, Yonago Higashi Hospital, Tama Hokubu Medical Centre, Ohdate City Hospital, Mirai Orthopaedic & Pain Clinic, Saku-Daira Orthopaedic Clinic, Minano Hospital, Hiramatu Orthopaedic Clinic, Kurata Hospital, Yourou Orthopaedic Clinic, Takeda Orthopaedic Clinic, Nakane Orthopaedic Clinic, Kanematsu Orthopaedic Clinic, Ebihara Hospital, Tama Medical Rehabilitation Clinic, Nasu Orthopaedic Clinic, Kichikawa Orthopaedic Clinic, Nagata Clinic, Hirose Clinic, Honda Orthopaedic Clinic, Mikami Orthopaedic Clinic and Mori Orthopaedic Clinic.