Physical Activity and Falls Prevention. Wheres the link

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Physical Activity and Falls Prevention.
Wheres the link?
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NCMPCP Foothold on Safety Project

• Kerina Princi, Project Officer
• Minh Huynh, Physiotherapist, PVCH
• Cynthia Firth, Physiotherapist, NYCH
• Sue Misso, Occupational Therapist, DCH

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AIM OF THE FOOTHOLD ON SAFETY (6) PROJECT

• Reduce the incidence of falls amongst older
  people living in their own homes
• Target group is people of Culturally and
  Linguistically Diverse Background

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PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• Build sustainable service provider engagement in
  co-ordinated falls prevention practices
• Ensure reach and relevance to CALD communities
• Develop resources to support agency
  implementation
• Increase individual assessments and management of
  risk factors by service providers
• Build community engagement in falls prevention

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FACTS ON FALLS

• Falls account for gt90 of hip fractures suffered
  by older people.
• Falls are leading cause of injury related
  hospitalisation for people aged 65
• One in three people aged 65 and over likely to
  have a fall each year
• 
  ( MUARC, Facts on
  Falls Among Seniors)

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RISK FACTORS

• Intrinsic risk factors include
• People aged over 80 are greater risk
• Female
• Living alone
• Low muscle strength
• Polypharmacy
• Impaired sensation in lower limbs
• Impaired vision

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Intrinsic Risk factors (cont)

• Impaired cognitive function
• Low level of physical activity
• Low bone mineral density

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Environmental Risk Factors

• Environmental risk factors include
• Slippery floors
• Irregular and uneven flooring
• Poor lighting
• Cracked paths
• Lack of grab rails
• Unstable, poorly fitted footwear
•  

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WHAT WORKS?

• Multiple study reviews recommend the following
  interventions
• Multi disciplinary, multi factorial screening and
  intervention programs
• Individually prescribed muscle strength and
  balance retraining programs
• Home assessment and modifications for the
  visually impaired or history of falls
• (Gillespie LD, Gillespie WJ, Robertson MC,
  Lamb SE, Cumming RG, Rowe BH , 2003)

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WHAT WORKS?

• Individual Risk Factor Screening
• Withdrawal of Psychotropic Drugs

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Which exercises are best as a falls prevention
strategy?
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Types of exercises?

• Balance Exercise
• Weight bearing positions
• Exercises requiring minimal upper limb support
• Functional activity practice i.e stair
  climbing/sit to stand
• Endurance
• Increase general fitness
• Moderate-intensity resistance training

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Exercises for different population groups
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What doesnt work?

• Brisk walking
• Otago exercise program in peoplelt 80 with visual
  impairment or taking psychoactive rugs
• Tai Chi in frail older people
• Gentle and seated exercise

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Conclusion

• Strong evidence that exercise programs can
  prevent falls in community dwellers
• It is crucial that balance training is a core
  component

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FOS RESOURCES

• Exercise Directories
• Falls Risk Checklists Translated in
• Community Languages
• Screening Tools
• Falls Prevention Services Directories

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Older Persons Exercise Directories
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Challenges

• Time consuming
• Agency details/information is not regularly
  updated
• Avoiding duplication of similar resources
• Updating resources
• User friendly particularly for CALD people

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Where to from here?

• Local priority areas
• Sustaining project initiatives
• Building a PCP catchment wide approach to falls
  prevention
• Sharing knowledge, resources