Beyer 2007.
| Methods | Type of study: RCT | |
| Participants | Number of participants randomised: 53 completers in two arms Losses: 12 (8 intervention, 4 control) from 65 Age: mean (SD) 78.6 (5.1) exercise group, 77.6 (4.4) control group. Sex: women Residential status of participants: community dwelling Health status as defined by authors: healthy but fallers Setting: Denmark. Inclusion: Aged 70 to 90; community dwelling; fall requiring hospital visit not admission Exclusion: fracture of lower limbs within 6 months; neurological diseases; cognitive impairment (MMSE <24) |
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| Interventions | EXERCISE GROUP (MULTIPLE) (n = 24): strengthening exercises (high intensity >70% 1 RM (repetition maximum)), highly challenging balance exercises, flexibility. CONTROL GROUP (n = 29): usual activity. Duration and intensity: 6 months of 2 x 1 hour supervised classes per week. Supervisor: physical therapist for exercise groups. Supervision: group exercise classes for exercise groups Setting: community therapy gym | |
| Outcomes | Berg Balance Scale (0 to 56 points) Maximal walking speed (m/s) Compliance/adherence:Compliance in exercise group 79% (42 to 100%). 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) | Low risk | Computerised generation |
| 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 | High risk | Exercise group had three controls in it that wanted to exercise so potential bias |
| Blinding (participant) | High risk | Not possible |
| Blinding (assessor) | Low risk | Yes, reported independent |
| Were the treatment and control group comparable at entry? | High risk | Yes in most tests, but had more chronic diseases and had lower balance confidence (ABC) |
| Was the surveillance active, and of clinically appropriate duration (i.e. at least 3 months post intervention)? | Low risk | Detraining was looked at 6 months after intervention training |