Abstract
There is limited research on optimal exercise programs that effectively decrease falls and fall-related injuries in older populations. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to explore the effects of a 12-week Judo4Balance program on falling techniques, physical and psychological functions, health status, and physical activity levels among 200 community-dwelling older adults (79% women and 21% men) with a mean age of 72 years. The 200 participants were randomly allocated for the Judo4Balce program ( n = 100) or control group ( n = 100). The RCT intervention started in mid-January 2020 and was abruptly interrupted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A restart of the RCT was initiated in September 2021, and the 12-week intervention was offered to two groups. This study reports the results from three points of assessment: baseline, 20-month follow-up, and 12-week postintervention. At 20 months follow-up, the control group had significantly decreased physical activity levels (summer p = 0.002 and winter p = 0.003); similar changes were not seen in the exercise group. In the exercise group, learning falling techniques in 6-9 weeks led to sustained fall competence at 20 months follow-up. Further, significant improvements in physical function (exercise group p = 0.009 and control group p < 0.001) and learning falling techniques ( p < 0.001 for both groups) were noted in both groups after the 12-week intervention. This effective, supervised, group-based, high-challenge multicomponent exercise program needs to be further evaluated for possible impact on falls and fall-related injuries.
Keywords: exercise; judo; martial arts; motor skill; older adults; physical activity.
【저자키워드】 exercise, Older adults, physical activity, judo, martial arts, motor skill, 【초록키워드】 Randomized controlled trial, physical activity, COVID-19 pandemic, Intervention, RCT, improvement, Research, age, Health status, Psychological, Follow-up, women, change, Injury, Older, control group, two groups, both groups, participant, postintervention, functions, Effect, men, populations, physical, effective, decrease, Randomly, significantly, evaluated, initiated, sustained, baseline, in both group, offered, physical activity level, 【제목키워드】 Strategy, learning, challenge, landing, Controlled,