| OBJECTIVE: to make a preliminary assessment of the possible effect of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) on risk of falls in older adults. STUDY DESIGN: Single-group pre-test/post-test intervention. INTERVENTION: 6-9 high-velocity, low-amplitude SMT treatments over a 3-week period by an experienced doctor of chiropractic. OUTCOMES ASSESSMENTS: Risk of falls was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS); BBS scores of 45 or less are predictive of increased risk of falling. Additional assessments of balance-related symptoms were the One-Leg Standing Test (OLST) and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory. RESULTS: Of 108 patients screened, 14 were enrolled and 13 completed the study. Six of 7 patients with baseline BBS scores of 45 or less had follow-up scores higher than 45. CONCLUSION: Although this study was limited by its small sample size and absence of a comparison group, the change in patients’ fall risk pre- to post-intervention warrants further investigation of a possible role of SMT in fall prevention in older adults. This abstract is reproduced with permission of the publisher. Full text is available by subscription; click on the above link. |
