The Effectiveness of the Otago Exercise Program on Fall Prevention in Rural-Dwelling Older Adults

Research Objectives: To develop a sustainable, outcomes-based fall prevention program for rural Michigan older adults using the evidence-based Otago Exercise protocol in collaboration with community-based agencies serving older adults.

Design: Rural dwelling older adults have a higher prevalence of falls compared to non-rural older adults. In Michigan, Over 26% of older adults live in rural communities. Additionally, Isabella, Clare, and Gratiot counties are designated as medically underserved. Otago Exercise protocol is implemented to provide free fall prevention education resources to reduce falls and promote independence. Participants are screened before beginning the exercise protocol and complete balance assessments at baseline, three, six, nine, and twelve months to assess strength and balance as an outcome.

Setting: Classes are instructed by exercise trainers virtually via Zoom and at sites across Isabella, Clare, and Gratiot counties.

Participants: Criterion for inclusion are age 60 years or older, low to moderate assessed fall risk and living independently in the community. There are 68 participants enrolled in the program.

Interventions: Evidence-based Otago Exercise Program that incorporates seventeen strength and balance exercises over a year.

Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measurement is the comparison of baseline balance assessment to progression throughout the program. Score averages of the participants’ peer group are utilized to analyze results. Below average scores indicate increased fall risk.

Results: Assessment of the Otago protocol utilizes the three-step balance assessment consisting of the Chair Stand Test, Four-Stage Balance Test, and Timed Up-and-Go. After six months of the program, average improvement of about 29.40% in the Four-Stage Balance Test, 2.40% in the Timed Up-and-Go test, and 20.30% in the Chair Stand test has been shown.

Conclusions: Results from participants who have completed six months within the program show improvement on balance assessment scores. It can be concluded that compliance with the Otago Exercise Program results in increased balance in participants and overall decreased fall risk.

Author(s) Disclosures: This program received funding from Region VII Area Agency on Aging. Institutional IRB provided a determination of “not research”. We are declaring no conflicts of interest.