EFFECT OF A PHYSICAL EXERCISE PROGRAM ON FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY AND FALL PREVENTION IN PSYCHIATRIC INPATIENT CARE

Falls represent an important public health problem, especially among hospitalized adult and older patients, due to the risk of injuries, increased length of hospital stay, loss of functional capacity, and worsening of the clinical condition. In psychiatric inpatient units (PIUs), this risk becomes even more relevant due to factors such as the use of psychotropic medications, cognitive impairments, balance deficits, reduced muscle strength, and low risk perception. Although the benefits of physical exercise on functional capacity are widely described in the literature, studies investigating its direct relationship with fall prevention in hospitalized psychiatric patients are still scarce. In this context, the present study aims to develop and implement a physical exercise program for patients hospitalized in a PIU, evaluating its effects on functional capacity and fall risk. This is a randomized controlled clinical trial, with two arms (control group and intervention group), to be conducted in a PIU of a large hospital in the southern region of Brazil. The sample will consist of 46 adult and older patients of both sexes, classified as having moderate or high risk of falls, according to the SAKp Fall Risk Scale. Participants will be randomized into blocks of six individuals. The control group will follow the unit's usual physical exercise routine, while the intervention group will participate in a systematized program of aerobic, resistance, and balance exercises, performed two to three times per week, totaling at least six sessions. Assessments will be performed before and after the intervention using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and Calf Circumference (CC). The primary outcome will be improvement in functional capacity and, as a secondary outcome, reduction in fall risk. It is expected that the intervention will contribute to improving the functional performance of hospitalized patients, assisting in fall prevention.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients hospitalized in a Psychiatric Inpatient Unit;
• Adults aged 18 years or older;
• SAKp Fall Risk Scale with a moderate risk score (6.5 to 10 points) or high risk (10.5 points or higher);
• Clinical and cognitive conditions that allow the performance of physical exercises;
• Patients with an expected hospital stay of 12 days or longer, in order to ensure minimum exposure to the proposed intervention;
• Agreement to participate in the study by signing the Informed Consent Form.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with medical restrictions on the practice of physical exercise will be excluded from the study;
• Patients with an acute or unstable clinical condition that prevents the performance of the assessments;
• Patients or their legal representative who do not agree to participate or who withdraw from the study at any stage.