Abstract
Introduction:
The Older Person's Assessment Unit (OPAU) Physiotherapy team have been collaborating with Breathe Arts Health Research (BAHR) to provide ‘Dance for Strength and Balance’ (DSAB) classes for Older Adults as an alternative to traditional, long-established Strength and Balance Group (SABG). Previous preliminary data established DSAB to be safe and effective in falls risk reduction for participants.
The primary aim of this service evaluation was to determine if DSAB is at least as effective as SABG for improving outcomes and reducing falls risk for OPAU patients.
Methods:
46 DSAB patients were cross-matched to 46 SABG patients over a 3-year period (10th October 2019 – 24th November 2022). Only those with full data sets and at least 80% class adherence were included. Participants were matched by age, gender, ethnicity and functional level at class entry, including their Timed Up and Go (TUAG) scores.
Intervention effect was measured by change in performance of outcome measures including TUAG, Gait Speed (GS), Sit to Stands in 1 minute (STS), Turn 180 and Falls Efficacy Scale (FES-I).
Data was analysed using two-tailed t-tests.
Results:
Median age of participants was 79.5 years (48-95).
DSAB and SABG were beneficial to participants, with falls risk reduction demonstrated across the range of outcome measures.
There was no significant difference between groups for changes in TUAG, Gait Speed, Turn 180 and FES-I, with p-values >0.05 for all.
There was a significant difference in STS 1min (DSAB 0.63, SD 5.17; SABG 7, SD 6.72); t=-5.1, p=0.00
Conclusion:
DSAB classes were as effective as traditional SABG in targeting outcomes known to impact falls risk. The difference in STS 1min between groups is likely due to repetition of this as an exercise in SABG, and worth incorporating into DSAB. DSAB should remain an option for older adults aiming to reduce falls risk.