The effects of a falls prevention app ( <scp>SAFE</scp> app) on community‐dwelling adults' fall risk category: Single‐blinded randomized control pilot trial

BACKGROUND: In the United States, falls are the leading cause of adult fatal and nonfatal injuries with fall death rates rising after age 65 years. Despite this risk, many community-dwelling older adults do not participate in falls prevention activities. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if a 12-week app-based home exercise program reduces fall risk measures while increasing adherence rates. DESIGN: Single-blinded randomized controlled design. SETTING: Outpatient physical therapy setting. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older (N = 54). INTERVENTION: Group A received an app-based 7-minute daily home exercise program with five educational pamphlets. Group B received five educational pamphlets delivered via the same app as Group A. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries Tool Kit fall risk performance assessment measured by the 30-second Chair Stand, Timed Up and Go (TUG), and 3-Stage Balance Test, before and 12 weeks after intervention. METHODS: Participants were tested on the TUG, 30-second chair stand, and three-stage balance at the initial visit and 3 months later. Participants in both groups completed Feasibility of Intervention outcome measure after 12 weeks. Adherence measures were collected for both groups via the app. Unadjusted comparisons of outcomes between groups were summarized descriptively using mean differences at baseline and follow-up. Adjusted between-group treatment effects at follow-up were evaluated using analysis of covariance models with treatment group as the independent variable and baseline outcome values and age included as covariates. RESULTS: After adjustment for baseline values, the intervention group (Group A) demonstrated significantly better results at 12 weeks across multiple fall-risk outcomes, including reduced TUG time, increased 30-second chair stand, and improved balance scores. Compared with the control group, Group A showed significantly greater postintervention improvements in TUG (-2.03 s, p < .001), chair stand performance (2.79 repetitions; p < .001), and balance (2.02 points; p = .003). CONCLUSION: This home exercise program has been shown to effectively decrease fall risk in community-dwelling adults 65 years and older. This program had an adherence rate to the exercises of 89%.