Beling 2009.
| Methods | Type of study: RCT | |
| Participants | Number of participants randomised: 23 Losses: 4 (3 control, 1 exercise) Age: mean age 80 years Sex: 42% women Residential status of participants: community dwelling Health status as defined by authors: healthy Setting: USA Inclusion: over 65 years, community dwelling, English speaking, minimal vision and hearing limitations Exclusion:history of cardiac conditions, musculoskeletal/neurological conditions affecting balance, fracture in past year. |
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| Interventions | EXERCISE GROUP (GBFT) (n = 11): CoG exercises (closed chain), balance strategies, ankle hip and stepping; treatment of sensory impairments to use visual inputs and somatosensory inputs; exercise for ROM and strength. CONTROL GROUP (n = 8): usual activity Duration and intensity: 1 hour 3 x per week 12 weeks Supervisor: Physical therapist Supervision:group Setting: clinic | |
| Outcomes | SOT composite score TUG (s) Berg Balance Scale (0 to 56 points) gait speed (cm/s) Compliance/adherence: Subjects "expected" to attend 30/36 classes but compliance not reported Adverse events: No adverse events reported. |
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| Notes | ||
| Risk of bias | ||
| Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
| Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Randomisation mentioned but Insufficient information to permit judgement |
| Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Insufficient information to permit judgement |
| Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | High risk | Losses not accounted for, only those who completed |
| Selective reporting (reporting bias) | Unclear risk | Insufficient information to permit judgement |
| Other bias | Unclear risk | The study appears to be free of other sources of bias |
| Blinding (participant) | High risk | Not possible |
| Blinding (assessor) | Unclear risk | Insufficient information to permit judgement |
| Were the treatment and control group comparable at entry? | Low risk | No differences reported on baseline characteristics with a potential to influence the effect of the intervention |
| Was the surveillance active, and of clinically appropriate duration (i.e. at least 3 months post intervention)? | High risk | No follow‐up after the intervention year of the study |