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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #340737
Title: Effect of structured physical activity on prevention of serious fall injuries in adults aged 70-89: randomized clinical trial (LIFE Study)

Author
item GILL, THOMAS - Yale University
item PAHOR, MARCO - University Of Florida
item GURALNIK, JACK - University Of Maryland
item MCDERMOTT, MARY - Northwestern University
item KING, ABBY - Stanford University
item BUFORD, THOMAS - University Of Florida
item STROTMEYER, ELSA - University Of Pittsburgh
item NELSON, MIRIAM - Tufts University
item SINK, KAYCEE - Wake Forest School Of Medicine
item DEMONS, JAMEHL - Wake Forest School Of Medicine
item KASHAF, SUSAN - Yale University
item WALKUP, MICHAEL - Wake Forest School Of Medicine
item MILLER, MICHAEL - Wake Forest School Of Medicine
item REID, KIERAN - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item FIELDING, ROGER - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: British Medical Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/17/2015
Publication Date: 2/3/2016
Citation: Gill, T.M., Pahor, M., Guralnik, J.M., McDermott, M.M., King, A.C., Buford, T.W., Strotmeyer, E.S., Nelson, M.E., Sink, K.M., Demons, J.L., Kashaf, S.S., Walkup, M.P., Miller, M.E., Reid, K.F., Fielding, R.A. 2016. Effect of structured physical activity on prevention of serious fall injuries in adults aged 70-89: randomized clinical trial (LIFE Study). British Medical Journal. doi: 10.1136/bmj.i245.

Interpretive Summary: We tested whether a long term, structured physical activity program is more effective than a health education program in reduction of risk of serious fall injuries among sedentary older people with functional limitations. The study participants included 1635 sedentary adults aged 70-89 years with functional limitations, defined as a low short physical performance battery (SPPB) score, but who were able to walk 400 meters. About half the participants were randomized to a structured, moderate intensity physical activity program conducted in a center (twice a week) and at home (3-4 times a week) that included aerobic, strength, flexibility, and balance training activities. The other half of the participants were randomized to a health education program consisting of workshops on topics relevant to older people and upper extremity stretching exercises. Serious fall injuries, defined as a fall that resulted in a clinical, non-vertebral fracture or that led to a hospital admission for another serious injury, were a pre-specified secondary outcome in the LIFE Study. Outcomes were assessed every six months for up to 42 months by staff masked to the intervention assignment. All participants were included in the analysis. In this trial, a structured physical activity program, as opposed to a health education program, did not reduce the risk of serious fall injuries among sedentary older people with functional limitations. However it is likely that there were insufficient number of individuals participating in the study to detect any difference. Instead there was suggestive evidence that the physical activity program may reduce the rate of fall related fractures and hospital admissions in men.

Technical Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To test whether a long term, structured physical activity program compared with a health education program reduces the risk of serious fall injuries among sedentary older people with functional limitations. DESIGN: Multicenter, single blinded randomized trial (Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) study). SETTING: Eight centers across the United States between February 2010 and December 2013. PARTICIPANTS: 1635 sedentary adults aged 70-89 years with functional limitations, defined as a short physical performance battery score