Feasibility and outcomes of a home-based exercise program on improving balance and gait stability in women with lower-limb osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study.

Williams SB, Brand CA, Hill KD, Hunt SB, Moran H. Feasibility and outcomes of a home-based exercise program on improving balance and gait stability in women with lower-limb osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study. To evaluate the feasibility and gait stability and balance outcomes of a 4-month individualized home exercise program for women with arthritis. Pre-post interventional study. General community. Women (N=49) (volunteers) with lower-limb osteoarthritis or lower-limb rheumatoid arthritis were enrolled. Only 39 subjects were eligible and completed the study. After completion of the initial assessment, all participants received home balance exercises from an experienced physiotherapist based on assessment findings and exercises available from commercially available kits. All measures were repeated 4 months later. Falls risk (Falls Risk of Older People-Community Setting) and balance measures. Thirty-nine women (mean age, 69.3y; 95% confidence interval, 65.7-72.9) completed the 4-month program. At baseline, 64% of participants reported falling in the preceding 12 months, and the average falls risk (Falls Risk of Older People-Community Setting) score was 14.5, with 42% rated as moderate risk (16-23). Participants achieved improved performance on most balance and related measures after the exercise program, including falls risk (P=.01), activity levels (P=.015), fear of falling (P=.022), functional reach test (P=.001), rising index for sit to stand (P=.001), step width in walking (P=.001), and body mass index (P=.006). An individualized balance training home exercise program is feasible for older women with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis and may improve stability during walking and other functional activities.

Williams SB ，Brand CA ，Hill KD ，Hunt SB ，Moran H ... -  《-》

Effectiveness of a balance training home exercise programme for adults with haemophilia: a pilot study.

Hill K ，Fearn M ，Williams S ，Mudge L ，Walsh C ，McCarthy P ，Walsh M ，Street A ... -  《-》

A randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of water-based exercise to improve falls risk and physical function in older adults with lower-extremity osteoarthritis.

To investigate the efficacy of a water-based exercise program specifically targeting balance to reduce falls risk and improve measures of balance and physical function in older adults with osteoarthritis (OA). Randomized controlled trial. Community. Persons (N=39; mean±SD age, 74±6y; 26 women) with mild to moderate OA and at risk for falling met study criteria, were measured at baseline, and were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=23) and control groups (n=16). Water-based program (12wk, twice weekly; intervention group) or a time-matched computer training program (control group). The primary outcome was the short-form Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA). Secondary outcomes included the Step Test, Timed Up and Go Test, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index (Likert 3.0 version), Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2, and Activity-specific Balance Confidence Scale. No statistically significant between-group differences were found for any outcome measured (n=35; 4 lost to follow-up). Within-group analysis indicated that Step Test results improved significantly in both groups (mean change: control group, left leg, 2.07; 95% confidence interval, 3.19-.95; P=.002; intervention group, 2.14; 95% confidence interval, 3.20-1.08; P=.000). Two PPA item scores (reaction time, contrast sensitivity) improved significantly (86.83; 95% confidence interval, 9.86-163.79; P=.03; 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 2.35-.50; P=.005, respectively) in the control group, resulting in a lower falls risk score. Water-based exercise did not reduce falls risk in our sample compared with attending a computer skills training class. Our study is, to our knowledge, the first to compare water-based exercise in this population with a control group that attended a time-dose-equivalent seated community-based activity. Whether gaining computer skills and going out into the community twice weekly is adequate stimulus to reduce falls risk in people with OA requires further investigation.

Hale LA ，Waters D ，Herbison P 《-》

The effects of a home-based exercise program on balance confidence, balance performance, and gait in debilitated, ambulatory community-dwelling older adults: a pilot study.

Miller KL ，Magel JR ，Hayes JG 《Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy》

Effectiveness of a targeted exercise intervention in reversing older people's mild balance dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial.

Yang XJ ，Hill K ，Moore K ，Williams S ，Dowson L ，Borschmann K ，Simpson JA ，Dharmage SC ... -  《-》