Feasibility and effect of supplementing a modified OTAGO intervention with multisensory balance exercises in older people who fall: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective:

To investigate the feasibility and comparative effect of supplementing a modified OTAGO falls rehabilitation programme with multisensory balance exercises and informed sample size calculation for a definitive trial.

Design:

Single-blinded randomized controlled trial with pre/postcomparisons using a per-protocol analysis.

Setting:

Secondary care-based falls clinic, London, UK.

Subjects:

Community-dwelling older people (n = 21) experiencing ≥2 non-syncopal falls during previous 12 months.

Intervention:

Modified OTAGO exercise classes supplemented with supervised home-based rehabilitation consisting of multisensory balance or stretching exercises. Group classes and home sessions each occurred twice-weekly for eight weeks.

Measurements:

A computerised randomization was used for group allocation. A rater, blinded to intervention, performed the assessment including the Functional Gait Assessment (primary outcome), Physiological Profile Assessment, and questionnaires relating to symptoms, balance confidence, and psychological state (secondary outcomes).

Results:

Significant within-group improvements were noted for the Functional Gait (p < 0.01, r = −0.63) and Physiological Profile Assessments (p < 0.05, r = −0.63) in the OTAGO+multisensory rehabilitation group only and for balance confidence scores in the OTAGO+stretching group (p < 0.01, r = −0.63). Between-group differences were noted for the Functional Gait (p < 0.01, r = −0.71) and Physiological Profile (p < 0.05, r = −0.54) assessments with the OTAGO+multisensory group showing significantly greater improvement. The drop-out rate was similar for both groups (~30%). No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusions:

Supplementing the OTAGO programme with multisensory balance exercises is feasible in older people who fall and may have a beneficial effect on falls risk as measured using the Functional Gait and Short-form Physiological Profile Assessments. An adequately powered randomized controlled trial would require 36 participants to detect an effect size of 1.35 on the Functional Gait Assessment.