Barriers and Facilitators to Exercise Engagement in People Over 60 at Risk of Falls: an Exploratory Study

One in three people over the age of 65 and one in two over the age of 80 will fall each year. A fall is the main reason older people attend A and E. Falls can result in soft tissue injuries and broken bones, the most significant being a hip fracture, and these often require physiotherapy input. Locally, we have above average rates of hip fracture. Falling also reduces confidence and further mobility, which can also impact on developing long term health conditions.

Research has shown that exercise can help improve the strength and balance in people over 60 at risk of falls. Balance and strength exercises have been shown in previous research to reduce the risk of falls by 25% in patient's over 60. However, in other research, 78% of patients over the age of 75 have not done exercises at home in the last 5 years.

Exploring patient views on exercises and their physiotherapy experience will help us understand why patients engage or not with exercise and improve our services.

Patients who are at risk (identified through the EMIS template) of falls and have expressed an interest in being involved in research and who meet the additional eligibility criteria will be approached by the researcher. Eligible participants interested in participating will be contacted and sent the patient information sheet and consent form. They will be contacted within two weeks to see if they want to participate and assistance with the consent form either over phone or face to face.

A copy of the consent form will be scanned into the participant notes on EMIS, and paper copies stored securely in a locked filing cabinet.