Fall prevention exercise program for fall risk factor reduction of the community-dwelling elderly in Korea

A randomized comparison of pre-and post-experimental design was used to examine the effects of a fall prevention exercise program (FPEP) on muscle strength, ankle flexibility, balance, instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and depression for the community-dwelling elderly in Korea. Twenty-two subjects were assigned to an experimental group and twenty-three to a control group. The experimental group participated in a 4-day-per week FPEP of 8 weeks duration, twice a week by direct instruction and twice a week with videotaped instruction by the program instructor at each senior center. The eight-week FPEP turned out to be significantly effective in enhancing muscle strength, ankle flexibility and balance, and in reducing depression, after intervention among community-dwelling elderly in Korea. IADLs, however, was not changed by the intervention. Further research with a larger sample and longer follow up period is needed to expand our understanding about the effects of FPEP. Future study is also recommended to differentiate between the effects of FPEP by direct instruction and by videotaped.