Background: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of fall prevention programs support the use of exercise as an effective intervention to improve strength and balance, thus decreasing fall risks. The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (AFEP) has not been evaluated for its potential to improve measures of physical functioning relating to falls risk management. Objective: To analyze the effect of an 8-week, 16 session AFEP intervention on performance-based measures of balance, functional fitness and self-rated health-related quality of life measures for senior adults. Design: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest group design study, with each subject serving as her or his own control. Setting: An Alabama senior residential and wellness facility. Subjects: Forty-five senior volunteers. Methods: Balance and functional fitness measures were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Senior Fitness Test (SFT), which consists of six validated performance tests and assessment of Body Mass Index (BMI). Self-reported health-related quality of life was assessed using the RAND 36-Item Health Survey, Version 1.0. Results: Paired-sample t-test analyses identified the AFEP intervention as significantly associated with improvements in BB, SFT measures for arm curl strength, chair sit-and-reach and back scratch flexibility, and six-minute walk distance. There was no significant effect on SFT measures for BMI, 8-foot up-and-go, or any of the RAND-36 subgroups. Conclusion: The AFEP is a potentially effective fall prevention exercise intervention strategies for seniors.
