Older adults with COPD have a higher risk of falls than their peers who do not have COPD. Home-based exercise programs, combined with a virtual care program, could help reduce this risk.
That’s according to a study, “Reducing Fall Risk in Older Adults With COPD: Pilot Study to Test the Efficacy of a Home-Based Exercise Program With Virtual Care Support," published in The International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Researchers in New South Wales, Australia, conducted a six-month test of a home-based exercise program on a group of adults with COPD aged 50 and older who were also enrolled in a virtual care program. The exercise program consisted of movements that were specifically designed to improve balance and strength and reduce fall risk.
According to the study, 46% of the participants reported having one or more falls in the 12 months prior to the study. Most participants showed significant improvement in the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score between the measurements at baseline and six months and between baseline and three months.
The program also had a high level of acceptability among participants, with all participants intending to continue to do the exercises and 83% stating that they would recommend the program to other people with COPD.
The researchers wrote that, on average, participants completed the exercises twice per week rather than the recommended 3 times per week. Despite this, the home-based program improved strength and balance as measured by the SPPB.
