@article{ref1,
title="Functional reach and gait speed improvement in A Matter of Balance participants",
journal="Journal of trauma nursing",
year="2022",
author="Hood, Jessica and Sharrah, Mark L.",
volume="29",
number="1",
pages="5-11",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Falls among older adults are the most common cause of hospital admissions. A Matter of Balance may reduce these falls by improving balance, flexibility, gait speed, and agility. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to measure functional reach and gait speed among adults older than 65 years following A Matter of Balance. It was hypothesized that functional reach scores would increase and gait speed scores would decrease. <br><br>METHODS: This was an interventional study with the primary outcomes of functional reach (measured by the Functional Reach test) and gait speed (measured by the Timed Up and Go test). A one-tailed paired t test was used to compare pre- and postprogram functional reach mean differences. A one-tailed Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for comparing median differences of pre- and postprogram gait speed. Characteristics of participants who improved scores were compared with those who did not improve, using two-tailed independent-samples t tests and two-tailed Pearson's χ2. Effect sizes were computed for tests significant beyond p <.05. <br><br>RESULTS: Mean functional reach increased by 0.6 inches (SD = 2.21, p =.002; d = 0.2). Median gait speed decreased by 1.25 s (interquartile range = 2.39, p <.001; r =.76). Improvement was not attributable to differences of age, sex, health status, preexisting conditions, or delivery site. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Following A Matter of Balance, functional reach and gait speed improved. Adults older than 65 years should be encouraged to participate in the program, as it may reduce their fall risk.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1078-7496",
doi="10.1097/JTN.0000000000000625",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JTN.0000000000000625"
}