국내 노인을 대상으로 한 낙상예방 운동프로그램이 근력증가에 미치는 효과

Muscle Strengthening Effects of Exercise Programs for Preventing Falls Among the Elderly in Korea: A Meta-Analysis

The aim of the study was to identify which fall-prevention program offered in community settings in Korea is the most effective in strengthening muscles. Muscle weakness is one of the major risk factors causing falls among the elderly. Randomized controlled trials and clinical controlled trials published between 1906 and February 2011 were included in this study. Seventeen of the 69 identified studies met the study’s criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. The overall effect size of the program was .822 (95% confidence interval= .717~.927). The general strengthening exercise (1.600), dance sports training (1.538), Theta-band exercise for lower extremities (1.517), Seniorobic exercise (1.146), gait training (,959), balance training (,909), gradual resistive exercise (,888), and multifactorial fall prevention (,842) programs all show positive effects on muscle strengthening. Subgroup analyses found that more relative effects are seen in programs offered to the more elderly. In this study, the effect of increasing muscle strength on the prevention of falls can only be indirectly suggested; there are few available studies that report the frequency or history of falls in Korea. Further studies are needed to examine the direct effect of fall prevention exercise programs among the elderly.