Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of combined functional exercise training on fear of falling, salivary cortisol levels, and quality of life in older adults with a fear of falling.
Methods: A total of 40 older adults (16 men and 24 women aged ≥65 years) with a fear of falling were randomly assigned to either a control group (n=20, 8M/12F) or an exercise group (n=20, 8M/12F). The exercise group participated in an 8-week combined training program consisting of resistance, balance, and flexibility exercises, while the control group maintained their usual lifestyle. Quality of life (LEIPAD questionnaire) and fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale International [FES-I]) were assessed before and 48 hours after the intervention in both groups. Salivary cortisol levels were also measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: Fear of falling was significantly lower in the training group compared to the control group after the intervention (p<0.0001). The 8‑week combined exercise program resulted in a 51% reduction in fear of falling among the older adults (p<0.0001). Quality of life significantly improved in the training group compared to that in the control group (p≤0.001). Moreover, salivary cortisol levels were lower in the training group than those in the control group (p≤0.0001), while the combined exercises produced a 19.5% reduction in cortisol compared to pre-training levels (p=0.07).
Conclusion: Combined functional exercise program significantly reduced fear of falling and improved quality of life in older adults, while also inducing a downward trend in cortisol levels. Therefore, such programs can be recommended as safe and effective strategies in geriatric rehabilitation settings.
