Effectiveness of muscle strengthening and description of protocols
for preventing falls in the elderly: a systematic review |
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Authors: | Erika Y. Ishigaki Lidiane G. Ramos Elisa S. Carvalho Adriana C. Lunardi |
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Affiliation: | 1. Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil;2. Physical Therapy Department, Faculdade de Medicina, USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil |
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Abstract: | BackgroundFalls are a geriatric syndrome that is considered a significant public healthproblem in terms of morbidity and mortality because they lead to a declinein functional capacity and an impaired quality of life in the elderly. Lowerlimb muscle strengthening seems to be an effective intervention forpreventing falls; however, there is no consensus regarding the best methodfor increasing lower limb muscle strength.ObjectivesTo analyze the effectiveness of lower limb muscle strengthening and toinvestigate and describe the protocols used for preventing falls in elderlysubjects.MethodWe performed a systematic review of randomized and controlled clinical trialspublished between 2002 and 2012 in the databases PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Webof Science, and PEDro that cited some type of lower limb musclestrengthening protocol and that evaluated the incidence of falls as theprimary outcome exclusively in elderly subjects. Twelve studies met theinclusion criteria. Qualitative analysis was performed by independentreviewers applying the PEDro scale.ResultsThe data obtained from the selected studies showed lower fall rates in theintervention groups compared to controls. Six studies described the lowerlimb muscle strengthening protocol in detail. High methodological qualitywas found in 6 studies (PEDro score ≥7/10 points).ConclusionsThe methodological quality of the studies in this area appears to leavelittle doubt regarding the effectiveness of lower limb strengtheningexercises for preventing falls in elderly subjects, however theinterventions in these studies were poorly reported. |
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Keywords: | physical therapy elderly falls strength training rehabilitation review |
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