Dawn Skelton is an exercise physiologist with a scientific research background. She is currently Professor of Ageing and Health at Glasgow Caledonian University and a Director of Later Life Training. She has has an Honorary Doctorate from Umea University in Sweden for her work with exercise and older people. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. She is a Member of the British Geriatric Society Falls and Bone Health Committee and Chair of the National Osteoporosis Society’s Expert Exercise Working Group. She is a member of Public Health England’s National Falls Prevention Coordination Group.

Aim

The aim of this webinar is to give an overview of the FaME and Otago Structured Exercise Falls Prevention Interventions. These two evidence based programmes have been highlighted in the Public Health England (PHE) Consensus Statement on Falls and Fractures and in the PHE Return on Investment Tool as cost-effective. The importance of fidelity to the original interventions for effective reduction in falls (as opposed to reductions in potential risk with improvements in strength and balance) will be covered. The key elements of these interventions which lead to effectiveness will be discussed, as will the implications of cutting corners.

Audience

This webinar is aimed to inform commissioners of falls/frailty services and those working as exercise instructors within these services (PSIs/Otago Leaders).

Key learning/take home messages from this webinar are;

1. FaME (delivered by PSIs) and Otago (delivered by OEP Leaders) are effective at reducing falls if delivered with fidelity to the original intervention components.
2. Reducing falls through strength and balance training also addresses weak muscles and poor physical function in frailty.
3. Each intervention is targeted and most effective with different populations of older people. One size of exercise intervention DOES NOT FIT ALL.
4. Individual tailoring of exercise (for both progression and for safety) is paramount.
5. Baseline and ongoing assessment is key to this tailoring and small group sizes are vital for effectiveness, safety and motivation with this vulnerable group.
6. Effective programmes are NOT just a set of exercises – motivation and support strategies are vital for adherence to both home and group based programmes. If people don’t do the exercises, they are not effective!

Accompanying resources/links provided as part of this webinar are;

1. Slideshow handout for Return of Investment Webinar
2. URLs to other open access on demand webinars addressing exercise in frailty.
3. This webinar recorded as ‘on demand’ for future viewing and reflection.