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Published on: May 31, 2021
Effect of guided relaxation and imagery on falls self-efficacy: a randomized controlled trial
Bang Hyun Kim1, Roberta A Newton, Michael L Sachs
1Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. bangk@upenn.edu
Objectives:
To examine the effects of guided relaxation and imagery (GRI) on improvement in falls self-efficacy in older adults who report having a fear of falling.
Design:
Randomized, controlled trial with allocation to GRI or guided relaxation with music of choice.
Setting:
General community.
Participants:
Ninety-one men and women aged 60 to 92.
Intervention:
Participants were randomized to listen to a GRI audio compact disk (intervention group) or a guided relaxation audio compact disk and music of choice (control group) twice a week for 6 weeks for 10 minutes per session.
Measurements:
Primary outcome measure was the Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Secondary outcome measures were the Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (LTEQ) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) mobility test.
Results:
GRI participants reported greater improvements on the Short FES-I (P = .002) and LTEQ (P = .001) scores and shorter time on the TUG (P = .002) than the guided relaxation and music-of-choice group.
Conclusion:
GRI was more effective at increasing falls self-efficacy and self-reported leisure time exercise and reducing times on a simple mobility test than was guided relaxation with music of choice. GRI is an effective, simple, low-cost tool for older adults to improve falls self-efficacy and leisure time exercise behaviors.
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