Effectiveness of a physical exercise intervention program in improving functional mobility in older adults after hip fracture in later stage rehabilitation: protocol of a randomized clinical trial (REATIVE Study).

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures resulting from falls increase substantially with advancing age and less than half of older hip fracture survivors regain their former levels of mobility. There is increasing evidence that rehabilitation interventions with exercises that goes beyond the sub-acute phase or even in a later stage of care have a positive impact on various functional abilities. The purpose of this study is to determine if exercise program training for people who have suffered a fall-related hip fracture will improve functional mobility when compared with usual care. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial with blinded assessors and intention-to-treat analysis will be undertaken. We will recruit 82 older adults, 60 years or over who have suffered a hip fracture due to a fall in the previous 6 to 24 months. Participants randomized to the Intervention Group (IG) will undertake a physical exercise program involving progressive and challenging balance training and neuromuscular and functional training of the lower limbs, conducted at home by physiotherapists, once a week, lasting about one hour, in the first, second and third month after randomization and will be taught to perform exercises at home, twice a week, using a booklet. Visits to monitor and progress the home exercise program will be conducted once a month, from the fourth to the sixth month and each 2 months until the end of the follow up at the 12th month, i.e., a total of 18 sessions. Participants will receive monthly phone calls to encourage exercise adherence. The control group will receive usual care. The primary outcome will be mobility-related disability and participants will be assessed at baseline, and at 3 months, 6 and 12 months. Participants will receive monthly phone calls to ask about falls and exercise adherence. Adverse effects will be monitored. DISCUSSION: This study proposes a home-based exercise program, which may in part overcome some barriers for rehabilitation, such as difficulties with public transportation and lack of a caregiver to accompany older patients to sessions. If a positive effect is observed this program has the potential to be incorporated into the public health system and contribute to building a pathway of care for older people with hip fracture. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT02295527 .

Sedentary behavior: barriers and facilitators among older adults after hip fracture surgery. A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: Understand the experience of older adults after hip fracture surgery considering barriers and facilitators related to sedentary behavior. METHODS: A qualitative study using a semi-structured interview with three men and eight women aged 60 years or older after hip fracture surgery. RESULTS: Five barriers emerged: physical complaints, lack of accessibility, fear of falling, demotivation and negative social representation of old age, and two facilitators: overcoming dependency and having a caregiver. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight that physical complaints commonly addressed by physical therapists on their interventions are not the only impediments to reduce sedentary behavior. Important individual and social barriers should not be neglected when physical therapists conduct interventions to reduce sedentary behavior to maximize functional recovery in older adults after hip fracture surgery. Future clinical trials are required to investigate the effectiveness of more comprehensive interventions to reduce sedentary behavior in this population.

Characteristics of falls in elderly persons residing in the community: a population-based study / Características das quedas em idosos que vivem na comunidade: estudo de base populacional

Abstract Object: to examine the characteristics to the last fall of Brazilian elderly persons who experienced falls in 2008 and 2009, and to identify if there is a relationship with sociodemographic characteristics, physical health, comorbidities, clinical conditions and the circumstances of the falls. Methods: a cross-sectional, population based study was carried out with participants aged 65 and older from Barueri in the state of São Paulo and Cuiabá in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Households were enrolled within each census region according to population density and the number of elderly persons living in each region. A multidimensional questionnaire composed of sociodemographic factors and data regarding falls was used. Associations were analyzed using contingency tables, and Fisher's Exact or Pearson's Chi-square test was used. Results: 774 elderly people were included in the study, 299 of whom reported falling in the previous year. Of these, 176 (58.9%) had fallen once and 123 (41.1%) reported having fallen twice or more. Among fallers the mean age was 72.53 (±6.12) years and 214 (71.6%) were female. About 107 (35.8%) of the elderly reported having fallen forwards, 79 (26.4%) fell to the side and 42(14%) fell backwards. Regarding the circumstances of the falls, 107 (35.8%) reported having lost their balance, 79 (26.4%) said they had stumbled and 42 (14%) said they had slipped. There was an association between the mechanism and circumstances of the falls and having fallen once or twice or more. There was an association between the circumstances of falls and the number of medications taken. Conclusion: The characteristics of falls were different among elderly persons who had fallen once or twice or more, which may guide health professionals, the elderly and their families in relation to specific fall prevention strategies. AU

Resumo Objetivo: Explorar as características da última queda em idosos brasileiros que caíram em 2008 e 2009 e identificar se há relação com as características sociodemográficas, de saúde física, comorbidades, condições clínicas e com as circunstâncias de quedas. Método: Estudo transversal, de base populacional, com idosos de 65 anos de idade ou mais, de Barueri, SP e Cuiabá, MT, Brasil. Foi utilizado um inquérito multidimensional contendo dados sociodemográficos, de saúde física e mental e de quedas. As associações foram analisadas por meio de tabelas de contingência e foi usado o teste Exato de Fisher ou de qui-quadrado de Pearson. Resultados: 774 idosos foram incluídos no estudo e destes, 299 (38,6%) relataram queda no último ano, sendo que 176 (58,9%) caíram uma vez e 123 (41,1%) relataram ter caído duas vezes ou mais. Entre os caidores, a idade média foi de 72,5 (±6,1) Cerca de 107 (35,8%) dos idosos relataram ter caído para frente,79 (26,4%) para os lados e 42 (14%) para trás. Quanto às circunstâncias, 107 (35,8%) idosos relataram ter perdido o equilíbrio, 79 (26,4%) referiram ter tropeçado e 42 (14%) ter escorregado. Houve associação entre o mecanismo e as circunstâncias das quedas e ter caído uma vez ou duas vezes ou mais. Houve associação entre as circunstâncias das quedas e o número de medicações. Conclusão: As características das quedas são diferentes para os idosos que caíram uma ou duas ou mais vezes, o que pode nortear os profissionais de saúde, idosos e seus familiares em relação a estratégias específicas para prevenção de quedas. AU

Fatores associados a quedas e quedas recorrentes em idosos: estudo de base populacional / Factors associated with falls and recurrent falls in elderly: a population-based study

Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência e os fatores associados a quedas e quedas recorrentes em uma amostra de idosos que vivem na comunidade no município de Cuiabá-MT. Métodos: Estudo transversal, de base populacional, com idosos de 65 anos ou mais. Os domicílios foram arrolados por meio do sorteio de regiões censitárias, de acordo com a densidade populacional e o número de idosos em cada região. Foi utilizado um inquérito multidimensional contendo dados sociodemográficos, clínicos, psicológicos, de desempenho funcional e uma bateria de testes físicos. Resultados: A amostra foi composta por 391 participantes, com idade média (dp) de 72,4 (6,0) anos. Do total de participantes, 37,5% referiram ter caído no último ano e 16,5% relataram duas ou mais quedas. Cair foi associado a sintomas depressivos (OR=1,96; 95% IC 1,22-3,14, p=0,005); morar só (OR=2,83; 95% IC 1,57-5,12, p<0,001); baixa autoeficácia para quedas (OR=1,77; 95% IC 1,10-2,83, p=0,017); e artrite (OR= 2,10; 95% IC 1,34-3,29, p=0,001). Cair recorrentemente foi associado a: gênero feminino (OR=2,54; 95% IC 1,23-5,21, p=0,011); ter 80 anos e mais (OR=2,30; 95% IC 1,12-4,72, p=0,022); queixa de tontura (OR=1,91; 95% IC 1,04-3,49, p=0,035); morar só (OR=2,57; 95% IC 1,27-5,18, p=0,008); artrite (OR=1,94; 95% IC 1,07-3,51, p=0,027); e sintomas depressivos (OR=2,13 95% IC 1,17-3,88, p=0,013). Conclusão: Os fatores associados a quedas e quedas recorrentes modificáveis foram morar só, ter sintomas depressivos, baixa autoeficácia para quedas, tontura e artrite. Sugere-se que esses fatores sejam considerados em programas de prevenção de quedas nesta população. .

Objective: Identify the prevalence and factors associated with falls and recurrent falls in a sample of community-dwelling elderly. Methods: Cross-sectional, population based study, with participants aged 65 and older. Households were enrolled within each census region according to population density and number of elderly living in each region. It was used a multidimensional questionnaire composed of sociodemographic, clinical, psychological and physical functioning performance data and a battery of physical tests. Results: The sample was composed by 391 participants with mean age (SD) of 72.4 (6.0) years. Among the participants, 37.5% reported fall in the last year and 16.5% reported two or more falls. Falling was associated with depressive symptoms (OR=1.96; 95% CI 1.22-3.14, p=0.005); living alone (OR=2.83; 95% CI 1.57-5.12, p<0.001); low self-efficacy for falls (OR=1.77; 95% CI 1.10-2.83, p=0.017) and arthritis (OR=2.10; 95% CI 1.34-3.29, p=0.001). Falling recurrently was associated with: female gender (OR=2.54; 95% CI 1.23-5.21, p=0.011); being 80 years or older (OR=2.30; 95% CI 1.12-4.72, p=0.022); dizziness (OR=1.91; 95% CI 1.04-3.49, p=0.035); living alone (OR=2.57; 95% CI 1.27-5.18, p=0.008); arthritis (OR=1.94; 95% CI 1.07-3.51, p=0.027); and depressive symptoms (OR=2.13 95% CI 1.17-3.88, p=0.013) Conclusion: The modifiable factors associated with falls and recurrent falls were living alone, depressive symptoms, low self-efficacy for falls, dizziness and arthritis. We suggest that programs to prevent falls should accomplish these factors. .

Tontura em idosos da comunidade: estudo de base populacional / Dizziness in community-dewelling older adults: a population-based study

A queixa de tontura é comum em idosos. OBJETIVO: Identificar a prevalência de tontura e os fatores associados em uma amostra de idosos que vivem na comunidade. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudo de coorte histórica prospectivo, com idosos de 65 anos ou mais. Foi utilizado um inquérito multidimensional e uma bateria de testes físico-funcionais. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de tontura foi de 45 por cento. A tontura giratória foi relatada por 70,4 por cento dos idosos e 43,8 por cento disseram já ter tido crises vertiginosas em algum momento da vida. Houve associação significativa entre queixa de tontura e gênero feminino (p=0,004), relato de dificuldade de memória (p=0,015), má percepção de saúde (p=0,001), depressão (p<0,0001), cinco ou mais comorbidades (p=0,021), fadiga autorreferida (p<0,0001), história de quedas recorrentes (p=0,001), sonolência excessiva (p=0,003), medo de cair (p<0,0001), tempo de apoio unipodal esquerdo (p=0,002) e escore do Short Performance Physical Battery (p=0,009). CONCLUSÃO: A tontura é uma queixa comum em idosos e está associada a condições clínicas limitantes, como depressão, fadiga, sonolência excessiva e dificuldade de memória. Ressalta-se a associação com quedas recorrentes, medo de cair e pior desempenho em testes de função motora, que pode comprometer a independência dos idosos. Os dados sugerem a importância de uma abordagem multifatorial da tontura em idosos.

Dizziness is a common complaint among older adults. AIM: To identify the prevalence of dizziness and its related factors in a sample of community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: A prospective population-based study with a representative sample of older adults aged 65 years and over. A multidimensional questionnaire and a battery of measures were used for assessing physical function. RESULTS: The prevalence of dizziness was 45 percent. Vertigo was found in 70.4 percent of older adults with dizziness and 43.8 percent of them referred vertigo crises along life. A significant association was found between dizziness and female gender (p=0.004), memory difficulties complaints (p=0.015), bad health perception (p=0.001), depression (p<0.0001), five or more comorbidities (p=0.021), self-reported fatigue (p<0.0001), recurrent falls (p=0.001), excessive sleepiness (p=0.003), fear of falling (p<0.0001), left leg unipedal stance (p=0.002) and Short Performance Physical Battery score (p=0.009). CONCLUSION: Dizziness is a common complaint among older adults and it is associated with limiting clinical conditions, such as depression, fatigue, excessive sleepiness and impaired memory. It is highlighted the association between dizziness and recurrent falls, fear of falling and lower performance in physical function tests, which can restrict independence. These data suggest the importance of a multifactorial approach to dizziness in older adults.