A sample size of 500 will be necessary to see an effect on falls rate.
Nevertheless, and although this study was not powered to assess its effect on falls prevention due to the small sample and the use of self-report, our finding that BRU training had a significantly higher effect on falls prevention deserves further exploration in future clinical trials.
Our findings compare favourable to other studies that added training components in the sense that the addition of a cognitive component did not lead to a lower effect on falls rate [ 119].
The crude rate ratios indicate a similar intervention effect on falls 2 and 3. * fall rate measured per 1000 person-days † RR = rate ratio As expected, the rate ratios for the first fall from the conditional models give identical estimates, 0.68 (95% CI 0.57 0.83), since the total follow-up time and gap time to first falls refer to the same period (Table 8).
One study using sensors as part of a multi-factorial intervention found no effect on falls rate [ 13], whilst a more recent trial using sensors as part of a multi-factorial intervention significantly reduced in-patient falls, although the actual numbers of patients receiving alarms and the type of alarm were not described [ 14].
Due to the limitation of randomized controlled cross-over trials, the investigation of effects on falling is beyond the abilities of the present study.
We plan to collect preliminary falls data by monitoring falling in our subjects for a one-year period following the completion of training (using monthly report cards and telephone follow-up [ 41]); however, investigation of effects on falling is beyond the intended scope of this initial study, and the current sample will likely be too small to determine significant changes in fall rate.
Symmetrical body-weight distribution training in stroke patients and its effect on fall prevention.
However, a Cochrane systematic review demonstrated that there was little evidence that the use of hip protectors reduces the incidence of hip fracture in older people in institutional settings; it had little or no effect on falls and adverse events (skin irritation).
A factorial trial (n = 391) among community dwellers did not find a significant effect on falls from a home-based exercise intervention, although clinically relevant effects in either direction were not excluded by the study (incidence rate ratio = 1.15, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.61).
Moreover, depression was found to have a negative effect on falls [ 1].
