Evaluation of Strong & Steady - Fall Preventive Group Exercise Program

Evaluation of Strong & Steady: A Group Exercise Program for Preventing Functional Decline and Falls Among Community Dwelling Older Adults

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of Strong and Steady (S&S) group exercise on fall risk and physical function among community-dwelling older adults over 12 months. A pre-post test study deign will be used.

The S&S group exercise program builds on the Otago and FaME exercise programs which have shown to be effective in preventing falls. Strong and steady has been adapted to more functionally fit older people.

The study period will be one year. Due to the corona pandemic all S&S groups in Norway have been closed. Due to this all participants have had a break from their exercise program for more than 6 months and can be seen av new participants to the exercise groups. Participants that are about to start in a S&S group in municipalities in Trøndelag will be asked to participate in this study. They will go through tests of muscle strength and balance in addition to questionnaires at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of exercise. Where possible the participants will go through the same tests 1 month before they start to exercise in addition to the three other test timepoints.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able to get to the training facilities on their own
• Able to walk without a walking aid indoors

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed with dementia