A Comparison of the Effects of Exercise Combined with Balance Training on Fall Risk Prevention in Older Adults

Authors

  • Vinijta Khwannoo Sikhoraphum Hospital

Keywords:

Older adults, Falls, Exercise, Coconut-shell balance training

Abstract

This pre-experimental, one-group pretest-posttest study aimed to evaluate the effects of an exercise program combined with coconut-shell balance training on physical performance and fall risk, and to assess satisfaction among older adults in a community hospital. A total of 40 older adults aged 60–79 years attending the elderly clinic of Sikhoraphum Hospital participated in an 8-week program (three sessions per week). The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and a satisfaction questionnaire were utilized. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests. The results indicated that the mean TUG time significantly decreased from 14.50±3.00 to 11.70±2.60 seconds (Mean difference = 2.80 seconds, 95% CI: 2.18-3.42, t = 9.12, P-value < .001). The proportion of participants classified as having a high fall risk declined from 50.00% to 10.00%, while the low-risk group increased from 15.00% to 45.00%. Overall satisfaction with the program was at the highest level (mean score 4.52±0.38).
It is recommended that community hospitals implement this 8 week program as an intervention package in elderly clinics to improve physical performance and mitigate fall risk.

References

กรมควบคุมโรค. (2562). สถานการณ์การพลัดตกหกล้มในผู้สูงอายุไทย. กระทรวงสาธารณสุข.

กรมอนามัย. (2566). ประชากรอายุ 60 ปีขึ้นไป เขตสุขภาพที่ 9 (แดชบอร์ดข้อมูลประชากร). กระทรวงสาธารณสุข.

พิมพ์ชนก ปานทอง, และคณะ. (2567). ผลของโปรแกรมการออกกำลังกายแบบ Otago ต่อการทรงตัวและพฤติกรรมการป้องกันการล้มในผู้สูงอายุ. วารสารเครือข่ายบริการสุขภาพเขต 9, 12(1), 1–14.

มูลนิธิสถาบันวิจัยและพัฒนาผู้สูงอายุไทย. (2564). รายงานสถานการณ์ผู้สูงอายุไทย พ.ศ. 2564.

มูลนิธิสถาบันวิจัยและพัฒนาผู้สูงอายุไทย.

Ambrose, A. F., Paul, G., & Hausdorff, J. M. (2013). Risk factors for falls among older adults:

A review of the literature. Maturitas, 75(1), 51–61.

Bergen, G., Stevens, M. R., & Burns, E. R. (2016). Falls and fall injuries among adults aged ≥65 years — United States, 2014. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 65(37), 993–998.

Chen, W., Li, M., Li, H., Lin, Y., & Feng, Z. (2023). Tai Chi for fall prevention and balance improvement in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1236050.

Florence, C. S., Bergen, G., Atherly, A., Burns, E., Stevens, J., & Drake, C. (2018). Medical costs of fatal and nonfatal falls in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 66(4), 693–698.

Podsiadlo, D., & Richardson, S. (1991). The timed “Up & Go”: A test of basic functional mobility for frail elderly persons. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 39(2), 142–148.

Sherrington, C., Fairhall, N. J., Wallbank, G. K., Tiedemann, A., Michaleff, Z. A., Howard, K., ... & Lord, S. R. (2019). Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (1), CD012424.

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. (2019). World Population Ageing 2019: Highlights. United Nations.

World Health Organization. (2021). Ageing and health.

Downloads

Published

2026-07-23