Pragmatic exercise-oriented prevention of falls among the elderly: a population-based, randomized, controlled trial.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of an intervention planned and implemented by regional geriatric care teams in order to prevent falls in an elderly population.

Methods: The study was conducted among 555 (67%) home-dwelling Finnish persons aged 85 years or older of a representative population sample (N=827) in 2000-2003. Altogether 486 subjects (88%) had a history of recurrent falls or at least one risk factor for disability in the activities of daily living or mobility and were randomly assigned to receive suggestions for a programme consisting of home exercise, walking exercise, group activities or self-care exercise or alternatively routine care.

Prevention of disability by exercise among the elderly: a population-based, randomized, controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of an intervention planned and implemented by regional geriatric care teams in order to prevent disability in an elderly population.

Design: Randomized, controlled trial with intention-to-treat and subgroup analyses. Subjects and setting.

Falls and injurious falls late in home-dwelling life.

Of the Finnish persons aged 85 years or older, living at home, 555 (67% of this age class) were monitored for two years to describe the circumstances and the frequency of falls and injury-causing falls. The incidence rates of falls, major soft tissue injuries and fractures were 1039 (95% confidence interval = CI: 974-1093), 74 (58-92) and 89 (72-108), respectively. The incidence of falls was higher among women 1127 (1055-1199) than among men 755 (651-870), but only among those younger than 90 years.