Home Exercises for Fall-related Variables in Elderly Adults

It was assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I). FES-I is a self-rating questionnaire designed for measuring concerns about the possibility of falling during several activities of daily living. In total, sixteen practices and activities, which are carried out at home such as cooking, dressing, taking a bath; and out of home such as visiting someone, walking on an uneven surface or shopping are scored between 1 and 4 (1 = not at all concerned, 4 = very concerned). The range of total score varies between 16 to 64 and the higher the score the lower the falls efficacy. The investigators have aimed to measure the change in falls efficacy between three time points (baseline, eighth week, sixth month)in order to explore whether there is an improvement in this outcome measure. The change in falls efficacy was calculated by using suitable nonparametric statistical analysis methods.

Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used for measuring FOF subjectively. Participants were asked to indicate the degree of falling fear by making a mark on a 100 milimeter line (zero; not at all, 100; maximum fear). A new paper sheet was used at each visit so that the participants couldn't see the previous response that they have given. This was done with the purpose of prevent them from getting biased.

To assess functional mobility Timed up and go (TUG) test was used. Participants were requested to walk at their ordinary walking speed during TUG test. They were seated at the beginning of the test and asked for rising from chair after the command "ready-set-go", walking 3 meters, turning around, going back to chair and sitting down again. Duration between rising from chair and sitting down was recorded with a stopwatch. Before testing, participants were instructed about testing procedure and one test trial was performed for this purpose.

With the aim of rating balance performance, Balance Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (BPOMA) of Tinetti was used. In this test, eight different tasks are scored between 0-2. Maximum possible score is 16 and higher score is related to the better balance performance. For detailed information; this test evaluates sitting and standing balance, turning 360°, the ability of arising from chair and sitting down.

Elderly Falls Screening Test (EFST) was used to assess risk of fall. It is composed of two parts, one of which queries fall number in the last year, history of injurious fall and near fall; the second evaluates walking speed and style. The first part is self-report and covers three items; the second part is scored by assessor and covers two items. Maximum possible score is five. A score between 0-1 indicates low, 2-3 moderate and 4-5 high fall risk.

This scale is used for defining the depressive symptoms. It covers fifteen dichotomous questions that ask participants to answer in a yes or no fashion. Of the 15 questions, 10 indicate the presence of depression when answered as yes while remaining five indicate the presence of depression when answered as no. An answer in the direction of depression is assumed as one point. To get a final score, all points are summed. Thus, total score is between 0-15. A score between 0-5 is normal, a score above 5 suggests depression.