Effects of twelve weeks regular balance, strength and aerobic exercises on falls with people who are over 55 years old

Objective: Falls in the elderly are a major health problem for people who are over 55 years old. The purpose of this study is to determine how the physical activity counseling services and exercise prescriptions effect on reduce the prevalence of falls with exercise programs have been shown and improve helalth quality of elderly people.Method: Sedentary patients over 55, without any physical health condition, and physical and mental problems, who were able to communicate and who add a tendency to physical activity, participated voluntarily to this study. The control group comprised of 66 inviduals and the intervention group of 66 individuals. The intervention group were advised to exercise and were trained 30 minutes on physical activity. A set of First Step Education [Thera-Band, Plates balls, Perceived Exertion Level (Scale of Borg), First Step Program Handbook] was also handed out. Prescriptions were renewed every month. The individuals in control group were informed by their sport profession for 5-10 minutes on how to increase the physical activity and about the benefits of physical activity. With the aim of measuring the effectiveness of exercise prescriptions balance questionnaires, functional and exercise measures and a health outcome scale (SF-36) was applied and repeated at the 12 th. week of study.Results: A significant improvement between first and last measures of senior fitness parameters (arm curl, eight foot up and go, thirty second chair stand, back scratch, two minutes step, chair sit and reach), fifty foot walk (p<0.05) in the intervention group was observed. Time effect of quality of life revealed a significant improvement in the physical function, physical role, body pain, mental health, emotional role sub-domains and balance efficacy scale, Fullerton advanced balance scale in the intervention group (p<0.05). Between groups a significant difference was observed in the senior fitness parameters (arm curl, eight foot up and go, thirty second chair stand, back scratch, two minutes step, chair sit and reach) and fifty foot walk (p<0.05). Quality of life sub-domains revealed significant differences in physical function, general health, emotional role and also balance efficacy scale, Fullerton advanced balance scale between both of groups (p<0.05).Conclusion: Counseling services on physical activity at Primary Health Care level showed positive improvements on balance scales, senior fitness parameters and quality of life levels in sedentary patients, who were eligible for exercise. A country wide implementation of the developed instrument seems to be useful to enhance physical activity at community level.Key words:Physical activity, falls prevention, sedentary life style, exercise prescription, counseling, primary health care, family practice, preventive medicine