Reducing Fall Risk with Combined Motor and Cognitive Training in Elderly Fallers
Abstract
Background. Falling is a major clinical problem in elderly people, demanding effective solutions. At present, the only effective intervention is motor training of balance and strength. Executive function-based training (EFt) might be effective at preventing falls according to evidence showing a relationship between executive functions and gait abnormalities. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of a motor and a cognitive treatment developed within the EU co-funded project I-DONT-FALL. Methods. In a sample of 481 elderly people at risk of falls recruited in this multicenter randomised controlled trial, the effectiveness of a motor treatment (pure motor or mixed with EFt) of 24 one-hour sessions delivered through an i-Walker with a non-motor treatment (pure EFt or control condition) was evaluated. Similarly, a 24 one-hour session cognitive treatment (pure EFt or mixed with motor training), delivered through a touch-screen computer was compared with a non-cognitive treatment (pure motor or control condition). Results. Motor treatment, particularly when mixed with EFt, reduced significantly fear of falling (F(1,478) = 6.786, p = 0.009) although to a limited extent (ES −0.25) restricted to the period after intervention. Conclusions. This study suggests the effectiveness of motor treatment empowered by EFt in reducing fear of falling. View Full-Text
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Barban, F.; Annicchiarico, R.; Melideo, M.; Federici, A.; Lombardi, M.G.; Giuli, S.; Ricci, C.; Adriano, F.; Griffini, I.; Silvestri, M.; Chiusso, M.; Neglia, S.; Ariño-Blasco, S.; Cuevas Perez, R.; Dionyssiotis, Y.; Koumanakos, G.; Kovačeić, M.; Montero-Fernández, N.; Pino, O.; Boye, N.; Cortés, U.; Barrué, C.; Cortés, A.; Levene, P.; Pantelopoulos, S.; Rosso, R.; Serra-Rexach, J.A.; Sabatini, A.M.; Caltagirone, C. Reducing Fall Risk with Combined Motor and Cognitive Training in Elderly Fallers. Brain Sci. 2017, 7, 19.
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