Community Fall Prevention Programs: Comparing Three InSTEP Models by Level of Intensity
in Journal of Aging and Physical ActivityClick name to view affiliation
The Fall Prevention Center of Excellence designed three progressive-intensity fall prevention program models, Increasing Stability Through Evaluation and Practice (InSTEP), to reduce risk in community-dwelling older adults. Each model included physical activity, medical risk, and home safety components and was implemented as a 12-week program for small class sizes (12–15 people) in community and senior centers. Change in fall rates and fall risk factors was assessed using a battery of performance tests, self-reports of function, and fall diaries in a 3-group within-subjects (N = 200) design measured at baseline, immediately postintervention, and at 3 and 9 months postintervention. Overall, participants experienced a reduction in falls, improved self-perception of gait and balance, and improved dynamic gait function. The medium-intensity InSTEP model signifcantly (p = .003) reduced self-reported falls in comparison with the other models. InSTEP is a feasible model for addressing fall risk reduction in community-dwelling older adults.
Kramer and Creekmur are with the Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA. Mitchell is with Michael Mitchell Consulting, Simi Valley, CA. Rose is with the Dept. of Kinesiology, California State University–Fullerton, Fullerton, CA. Pynoos is with the Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Rubenstein is with the Dept. of Geriatric Medicine, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK. Address author correspondence to Josea Kramer at josea.kramer@va.gov
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