Falls Prevention Program for Adults With Osteoarthritis

Falls Prevention Program for Adults With Osteoarthritis

Purpose: To report the feasibility and to obtain preliminary data on the effects of using an enhanced Otago Exercise Programme to reduce fall risk in individuals with osteoarthritis (OA).

Participants: Ten participants from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project who have OA, are at risk for falls, and are 65+ years old.

Procedures (methods): All participants will receive the 6-month enhanced Otago program. The investigators will assemble data: quantifying participant adherence to and safety of the intervention, ascertaining retention of participants for 6 months, determining acceptability of the program, and other validated measures (e.g., number of falls and fall severity, balance measures).

Inclusion Criteria:

• history of falls
• knee or hip radiographic OA
• 65+ years of age
• normal cognitive function (based on the Mini-Mental State Examination)
• current knee/hip symptoms

Exclusion Criteria:

• hospitalized for stroke, myocardial infarction, or coronary artery revascularization in past 3 months
• diagnosis of metastatic cancer in the past 3 months
• terminal illness
• progressive neurological disorders
• rheumatoid arthritis
• severe fibromyalgia
• other systemic rheumatic disease