Additional exercise for older subacute hospital inpatients to prevent falls: benefits and barriers to implementation and evaluation

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and implementation of a falls prevention exercise programme for preventing falls in the subacute hospital setting. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial, subgroup analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Patients of a metropolitan subacute/aged rehabilitation hospital who were recommended for a falls prevention exercise programme when enrolled in a larger randomized controlled trial of a falls prevention programme. METHODS: Participants in both the control and intervention groups who were recommended for the exercise programme intervention were followed for the duration of their hospital stay to determine if falls occurred. Participants had their balance, stren..