Otago Exercise Program in the United States: Comparison of 2 Implementation Models.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Physical Therapy
• Public Health

Background:

• The Otago Exercise Program (OEP) is an effective fall prevention strategy.
• Limited adoption of OEP by US physical therapists necessitates alternative delivery models.
• Two models were developed: US OEP (physical therapist-led) and community OEP (non-therapist led with PT consultation).

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify components of the US OEP and community OEP models.
• Compare participant characteristics across models.
• Examine and compare outcome changes between the two OEP delivery models.

Main Methods:

• A translational cohort study compared the US OEP and community OEP.
• Data collected included physical performance, sociodemographics, and self-perceived function at baseline and 8 weeks.

Main Results:

• Community OEP participants were younger and reported more falls.
• Both models showed significant improvements in physical function and self-reported measures.
• The community OEP demonstrated larger effect sizes for the Timed Up & Go Test, with no significant difference in overall outcome improvements between models.

Conclusions:

• Less expensive OEP implementation models can yield outcomes comparable to traditional approaches.
• Improvements in the Timed Up & Go Test were particularly notable.
• Consistent exercise engagement appears crucial for OEP effectiveness, supporting exploration of new delivery models.