Modified Otago Exercise Program on Balance Performance

The Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) is a modified version of the FES, based on the perceptive feeling on fall risks of the participants. It is a 16-item questionnaire on a 4-point ordinal scale, emphasizing social and physical activities. The minimum and maximum score is 16 and 64 respectively while a lower score indicates higher confidence in one's balance ability.

Functional Reach Test (FRT) is a common clinical outcome measure on dynamic standing balance. The participants were required to stand adjacent to a wall with a meter ruler fixed and to raise their preferred upper limb to the shoulder level. They were then instructed to reach as far as possible while maintaining their balance without moving both lower limbs for two trials, following one mock trial. The result recorded was the average distance from the reading of the tip of the third digit of the two trials. The longer the subject reaches, the better their dynamic balance.

The Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Tests (Mini-BESTest) emphasizes on measuring dynamic balance, functional mobility and gait. The total score is 28 and encompasses 14 items, including anticipatory postural adjustments, reactive postural control, sensory orientation and dynamic gait. Subjects were asked to perform 14 actions such as sit to stand, tip-toe standing and single leg standing. A higher score indicates better balance ability of the subjects.

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment 5-minute protocol (MoCA 5-min protocol) version 20151030 is an abbreviated Chinese version of conventional MoCA, including 4 subtests. It emphasizes on the examination of 5 cognitive domains, which incorporates attention, verbal learning and memory, executive function and orientation. Participants were required to recall 5 words from the first trial, name animals for 1 minute, answer 6 items on date and geographic orientation and to remember the 5 words provided at the beginning of the test. The maximum score for the test is 30 while a higher outcome indicates better cognitive ability.

The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly - Chinese version (PASE-C) is a brief assessment on the usual physical activity of the elderlies over a week. PASE scores are divided into three categories: sedentary, light, and moderate to intense. It examines the intensity of participation in leisure activities, sports, recreation, and muscle strengthening, and work. A higher score means that the subject adopts a more active lifestyle.