Otago Exercise Program Plus Cognitive Dual-task can Reduce Fall Risk, Improve Cognition and Functioning in Older...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Exercise Science
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

• Aging is associated with increased fall risk due to neuromusculoskeletal and cognitive decline.
• Physical exercise interventions show promise in mitigating fall risk.
• The combined effects of exercise and dual-task cognitive activity on fall risk remain under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of the Otago Exercise Program (OEP) combined with dual-task (DT) cognitive activity on fall risk in older adults.
• To compare the effectiveness of OEP alone versus OEP with DT cognitive activity.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental study involving 36 older adults (mean age 83.5 years) assigned to three groups: OEP, OEP + DT, and control.
• Intervention duration was 12 weeks, with pre- and post-intervention assessments.
• Fall risk was evaluated using the 10 Meter Walking Test (10MWT), evocative 10MWT, Timed Up and Go (TUG), Sit to Stand Test (STS), Four-Stage Balance Test, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Main Results:

• Both OEP and OEP + DT groups showed significant improvements in functional tests (10MWT, TUG, STS) compared to the control group.
• The OEP + DT group demonstrated significant cognitive improvements (MoCA) post-intervention.
• The incidence of fall risk (Four-Stage test) was substantially lower in the OEP (41.7%) and OEP + DT (33.3%) groups compared to the control group (83.3%).

Conclusions:

• The Otago Exercise Program effectively reduces fall risk in older adults by improving physical function.
• Integrating dual-task cognitive activity with the OEP enhances cognitive capacity alongside functional improvements.
• These combined interventions offer significant clinical benefits for fall prevention in the elderly.