EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF A COMMUNITY BASED, PEER-LED EXERCISE PROGRAM ON THE PREVENTION OF OSTEOPOROTIC FRACTURES AMONG ELDERLY WOMEN.
Main Article Content
Keywords
Osteoporosis, Peer-led exercise,, Fracture prevention, Elderly women, Community-based intervention
Abstract
Introduction: Osteoporotic fractures pose a significant health risk for elderly women. This study evaluated the impact of a community-based, peer-led exercise program on fracture prevention among this population.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at Vyas Medical College and Hospital over six months. 154 women aged 65 and older with osteopenia or osteoporosis were randomly assigned to an intervention group (peer-led exercise program) or a control group (standard care). Outcomes included bone mineral density (BMD), muscle strength, balance, fall incidence, quality of life, and self-efficacy. Data were collected using DXA scans, physical performance tests, questionnaires, and fall diaries.
Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in BMD at the lumbar spine (0.018 g/cm², p<0.001) and femoral neck (0.011 g/cm², p<0.001), while the control group showed minimal changes. Significant enhancements were observed in muscle strength and balance measures for the intervention group. Fall incidence was 48% lower in the intervention group (RR=0.52, 95% CI: 0.28-0.97, p=0.038). Quality of life and self-efficacy scores improved significantly in the intervention group. High program adherence was achieved, with 62.3% of participants attending ≥75% of sessions.
Conclusion: The community-based, peer-led exercise program demonstrated effectiveness in improving bone health, reducing fall risk, and enhancing quality of life among elderly women at risk of osteoporotic fractures. The high adherence rates and significant improvements across multiple outcomes suggest this approach could be a valuable addition to osteoporosis prevention strategies. Future research should focus on long-term effects and broader implementation of such programs.
References
2. Burton, E., Farrier, K., Hill, K. D., Codde, J., Airey, P., & Hill, A. M. (2017). Effectiveness of peers in delivering programs or motivating older people to increase their participation in physical activity: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Sports Sciences, 35(2), 163-176.
3. Cadore, E. L., Rodríguez-Mañas, L., Sinclair, A., & Izquierdo, M. (2013). Effects of different exercise interventions on risk of falls, gait ability, and balance in physically frail older adults: A systematic review. Rejuvenation Research, 16(2), 105-114.
4. Chan, D., Cameron, M., & Babiolakis, C. (2018). Effectiveness of peer-led education in improving osteoporosis knowledge and awareness in ethnic groups: A systematic review. Journal of Community Health, 43(6), 1143-1152.
5. Gillespie, L. D., Robertson, M. C., Gillespie, W. J., Sherrington, C., Gates, S., Clemson, L. M., & Lamb, S. E. (2012). Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (9).
6. Hernlund, E., Svedbom, A., Ivergård, M., Compston, J., Cooper, C., Stenmark, J., ... & Kanis, J. A. (2013). Osteoporosis in the European Union: Medical management, epidemiology and economic burden. Archives of Osteoporosis, 8(1-2), 136.
7. Horan, M. L., Kim, K. K., Gendler, P., Froman, R. D., & Patel, M. D. (1998). Development and evaluation of the osteoporosis self‐efficacy scale. Research in Nursing & Health, 21(5), 395-403.
8. Israel, B. A., Eng, E., Schulz, A. J., & Parker, E. A. (Eds.). (2013). Methods for community-based participatory research for health (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.
9. Kemmler, W., Bebenek, M., Kohl, M., & von Stengel, S. (2015). Exercise and fractures in postmenopausal women. Final results of the controlled Erlangen Fitness and Osteoporosis Prevention Study (EFOPS). Osteoporosis International, 26(10), 2491-2499.
10. Kohrt, W. M., Bloomfield, S. A., Little, K. D., Nelson, M. E., & Yingling, V. R. (2004). Physical activity and bone health. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 36(11), 1985-1996.
11. Papaioannou, A., Kennedy, C. C., Dolovich, L., Lau, E., & Adachi, J. D. (2007). Patient adherence to osteoporosis medications: Problems, consequences and management strategies. Drugs & Aging, 24(1), 37-55.
12. Sherrington, C., Fairhall, N. J., Wallbank, G. K., Tiedemann, A., Michaleff, Z. A., Howard, K., ... & Lamb, S. E. (2019). Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (1).
13. Simoni, J. M., Franks, J. C., Lehavot, K., & Yard, S. S. (2011). Peer interventions to promote health: Conceptual considerations. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 81(3), 351-359.
14. Zhao, R., Zhao, M., & Xu, Z. (2015). The effects of differing resistance training modes on the preservation of bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: A meta-analysis. Osteoporosis International, 26(5), 1605-1618
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Dr. Navin Mewara
Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Vyas Medical College and Hospital, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Dr. Bipin Kumar B Chhajed
Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Vyas Medical College and Hospital, Jodhpur, Rajasthan