Stand Tall-A Virtual Translation of the Otago Exercise Program

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Science
• Digital Health

Background:

• The Otago Exercise Program (OEP) is effective for fall prevention but faces delivery barriers.
• Virtual platforms offer a potential solution to increase OEP accessibility for older adults.
• Barriers include resource requirements and monitoring participant adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the Stand Tall intervention, a virtual adaptation of the OEP.
• To characterize participants and their fall-related risks at baseline.
• To assess changes in physical performance measures linked to fall risk over 8 weeks.

Main Methods:

• Quasi-experimental, single-group, pretest-posttest design.
• Recruited 42 older adults at risk for falls.
• Participants engaged in virtual exercises 3x/week for 8 weeks, with virtual and in-person check-ins.

Main Results:

• Participants (average age 75.0) showed high adherence (>88%).
• Significant improvements were observed in physical performance measures related to fall risk.
• Baseline function indicated decline, with average single-leg stance <10 seconds.

Conclusions:

• Avatar-delivered OEP (Stand Tall) is effective, feasible, and enjoyable for community-dwelling older adults.
• Virtual platforms can increase the availability of fall prevention programs.
• Consideration of such platforms is recommended for broader program reach.