The Study, Conducted With 54 Individuals Over the Age of 65, Aimed to Reveal the Advantages and Disadvantages of a Combined Exercise Program Compared to Otago Exercise Alone.

Otago Plus Proprioceptive Exercises for Sarcopenia, Frailty, Reaction Time, Balance, Falls, and Physical Performance in Geriatric Individuals

Falls are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults.

Approximately one-third of individuals over 65 years of age fall each year, and 10-15% of these falls result in serious injury.

Balance disorders, decreased muscle strength, prolonged reaction time, and decreased proprioception are key factors that increase the risk of falls.

One evidence-based intervention to reduce the risk of falls is the Otago Exercise Program, originating in New Zealand.

The program includes strength and balance exercises progressed with ankle weights and walking activities, and has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of falls in older adults.

Proprioceptive exercises aim to stimulate the sensory system responsible for body position perception and movement control. These exercises contribute to improved balance by enhancing sensorimotor integration.

Although the literature shows positive effects of Otago and proprioceptive exercise programs separately, studies comparing the effectiveness of combining these two approaches on sarcopenia, frailty, balance, falls, reaction time, and physical performance parameters are limited.

The aim of this study is to comparatively evaluate the effects of the Otago exercise program and a program combining Otago and proprioceptive exercises on sarcopenia, frailty, reaction time, balance, falls, and physical performance in geriatric individuals.

It is expected that the findings will contribute to more effective and goal-oriented planning of exercise programs in the geriatric population.

The proportion of the elderly population is rapidly increasing worldwide and in Türkiye. According to United Nations data, the population aged 60 and over is expected to exceed 2 billion by 2050. Turkish Statistical Institute projections also foresee that the proportion of the elderly population in our country will reach 20.8% in 2050. This demographic transformation makes the prevention and management of age-related health problems a priority from a public health perspective. Aging is accompanied by a decrease in physiological reserves, an increase in the incidence of multimorbidity, and a decline in functional capacity. One of the important clinical syndromes that stands out in this process is sarcopenia, characterized by progressive decrease in muscle mass and muscle function . Sarcopenia is strongly associated with fall risk, functional decline, frailty, and increased mortality. Fragility is defined as a state of vulnerability to stress resulting from a loss of reserves in multiple physiological systems, predisposing the elderly individual to negative health outcomes. Falls are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Approximately one-third of individuals over 65 years of age fall each year, and 10-15% of these falls result in serious injury. Balance disorders, decreased muscle strength, prolonged reaction time, and decreased proprioception are key factors that increase the risk of falls. One evidence-based intervention to reduce the risk of falls is the Otago Exercise Program, originating in New Zealand. The program includes strength and balance exercises progressing with ankle weights and walking activities, and has been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of falls in elderly individuals. Proprioceptive exercises, on the other hand, aim to stimulate the sensory system responsible for body position perception and movement control. These exercises contribute to improved balance by enhancing sensorimotor integration. Although the literature shows positive effects of Otago and proprioceptive exercise programs separately, studies comparing the effectiveness of combining these two approaches on sarcopenia, frailty, balance, falls, reaction time, and physical performance parameters are limited. The aim of this study is to comparatively evaluate the effects of the Otago exercise program and a program combining Otago and proprioceptive exercises on sarcopenia, frailty, reaction time, balance, falls, and physical performance in geriatric individuals. The findings are expected to contribute to the more effective and goal-oriented planning of exercise programs in the geriatric population.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 65 years of age or older,
• Able to speak and understand Turkish,
• Have at least a primary school education,
• Be able to respond to simple verbal commands.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Serious musculoskeletal pathology that may affect proprioception (advanced rheumatoid arthritis, severe osteoarthritis, major joint deformity, etc.), Major neurological or systemic disease that may affect proprioception (diabetic neuropathy, Vascular insufficiency, Post-stroke hemiplegia, Parkinson's disease, Inability to respond to commands due to cognitive dysfunction (SMMT <18 points), Severe visual or hearing loss, Lower extremity amputation or having undergone major lower extremity surgery within the last year.