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. 2021 Sep 22;33(6):e20200312.
doi: 10.1590/2317-1782/20202020312. eCollection 2021.

Speech therapy´s intervention for falling prevention in aging

[Article in Portuguese, English]
Carlos Kazuo Taguchi  1 , Brenda Carla Lima Araújo  1 , Leonardo Santos de Santana  1 , Raissa Valença de Souza Santos  2 , Jacqueline Pitanga Teixeira  2 , Allan Robert da Silva  1
Affiliations
Free article

Speech therapy´s intervention for falling prevention in aging

[Article in Portuguese, English]
Carlos Kazuo Taguchi et al. Codas. .
Free article

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Purpose: to verify the effectiveness of a Speech Therapy intervention program to decrease the risk of falls in elderly people.

Methods: Exploratory and intervention study where upon 148 volunteers from community, both genders, with an average of 68.6(± 6.5) years were submitted to the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI)- Brazilian brief and the Timed Up and Go (TUG). Volunteers with or without potential risk for falling were invited to participate in a 50-minutes long intervention program carried out for five consecutive weeks, based on Cawthorne and Cooksey exercises. Seventy-two volunteers 68.1(±6.5) years presented in at least three meeting, were reassessed. The results were analyzed by Wilcoxon, Chi-square, Spearman and Correlation Matrix tests, with p≤5.0%.

Results: Thirty-seven (25.0%) and 106 (71.6%) participants presented, respectively, risks for falls in the DGI-Brazilian brief and TUG. There was negative correlation between the DGI-Brazilian brief (p=0.034) and positive with the TUG (p=0.0071) with age and both instruments (p=0.00000016). Through the comparison the initial and final data a positive correlation was found for the DGI-Brazilian brief and for TUG in the Chi-square test and by Wilcoxon's. Better performance was observed in both tests after the intervention.

Conclusion: The intervention was effective in decreasing the risk for falls and improving gait performance, and functional and dynamic balance.

Objetivo: Verificar a eficácia de uma intervenção fonoaudiológica para diminuição do risco de quedas.

Método: Estudo exploratório e de intervenção em que 148 voluntários socialmente ativos, de ambos os sexos, com média de 68,6(±6,5) anos foram avaliados pelo Dynamic Gait Index (DGI)–Brazilian brief e o Timed Up and Go (TUG). Todos os voluntários, com e sem risco para quedas, foram convidados para o programa de intervenção realizado em cinco semanas consecutivas, com duração de 50 minutos baseados nos exercícios de Cawthorne e Cooksey. Destes, 72 com 68,1(±6,5) anos, com e sem riscos para quedas, que participaram de, pelos menos, três encontros foram reavaliados. Foram utilizados o teste de Wilcoxon, Qui-quadrado, Spearman e Matriz de Correlação, com p≤5,0%.

Resultados: Inicialmente, 37(25,0%) e 106(71,6%) dos voluntários apresentaram, respectivamente, riscos para quedas no DGI–Brazilian brief e no TUG. Verificou-se correlação negativa do DGI-Brazilian brief (p=0,034) e positiva com o TUG (p=0,0071) com a idade e entre os dois instrumentos (p=0,00000016). Na comparação dos dados iniciais e finais de 72 voluntários averiguou-se correlação positiva no DGI-Brazilian brief e TUG no teste do Qui-quadrado e de Wilkoxon. Foi observado melhor desempenho nestes testes após a intervenção.

Conclusão: A intervenção foi eficaz, uma vez que diminuiu o risco para quedas e melhorou o desempenho da marcha e equilíbrio funcional e dinâmico.

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