地域在住高齢者に対する「棒体操」の転倒予防効果

The effects of the “short stick exercise” on fall prevention among community-dwelling elderly

要旨：本研究の目的は，「棒体操」が高齢者の転倒予防に及ぼす効果，および「棒体操」の効果発揮時期と効果持続期間を検討することであった．4地区町村の地域在住高齢者62名を無作為に前期介入群（「棒体操」を週2回6ヵ月間自宅で実施した後，6ヵ月間経過追跡）と後期介入群（6ヵ月間の通常生活後，「棒体操」を週2回6ヵ月間実施）に割り付け，介入した．「棒体操」実施のアドヒアランスは87.5％と高く，転倒者数と躓き者数，転倒の内的要因に有意な改善がみられた．さらに，「棒体操」の効果は介入後1ヵ月から出現し，終了後も6ヵ月間持続した．以上の結果から「棒体操」は継続性があり，転倒予防に効果的であることが明らかとなった．

　The primary aim was to investigate the effects of “short stick exercise” on fall prevention. The secondary aims were to determine how long it takes to achieve the fall-preventing effect and its duration among the elderly.

　We randomly assigned 62 elderly subjects from 4 municipalities to two groups: a first-term intervention group, and a second-term intervention group. The first-term intervention group engaged in “short stick exercise” for six months twice a week, and then returned to their routine daily schedule. The second-term intervention group followed a routine daily schedule for six months, and then engaged in “short stick exercise” twice a week for six months.

　As a result, adherence of “short stick exercise” intervention was high (87.5%), and it revealed significant effects on reducing falling and tripping, and it also improved internal factors.

　Furthermore, the effects are seen after only one month of engagement, and continued after the six months “short stick exercise” engagement.

　The results validate the “short stick exercise” is an effective program for preventing falling among the elderly in the community.