Functional and Biomechanical Assessments of A Matter of Balance/Volunteer Lay Leader Model: A Pilot Investigation

摘要

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of A Matter ofBalance/Volunteer Lay Leader model (AMOB/VLL), an evidence-based falls preventionprogram, on improving balance and mobility. Twenty-eight community-dwelling older adultscompleted an eight-week AMOB/VLL program. Pre/post assessments of biomechanical andfunctional outcomes of balance during single and dual-task trials, as well as perceptions of fear offalling, were compared using pairwise t-tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Our findingssuggest that while improvements in functional indicators of mobility and perception regardingfear of falling were observed, biomechanical and functional assessments specific to balanceduring the single-task trials remained unaffected by the intervention. Interestingly, the groupexhibited improvements in biomechanical measures during the dual-task trials. SinceAMOB/VLL primarily focuses on restructuring participants’ perceptions about falls and onlyincludes generalized exercises, including balance-specific training within the program canpotentially improve balance outcomes among older adults.