Effects of the Application of a Program of Adapted Utilitarian Judo (JUA) on the Fear of Falling Syndrome (FOF) for the Health Sustainability of the Elderly Population

Abstract

This research analyzes the fall history of a group of elderly people and studies the effects of an intervention program based on Adapted Utilitarian Judo (JUA) to teach fall control in subjects with fear of falling syndrome (FOF). We adopted a quasi-experimental research design with pre-post measurement of the experimental group, in a healthy, pre-fragile sample of 12 women aged 71.5 ± 8 years, chosen using non-probabilistic-incidental accessibility sampling. The WHO questionnaire was used for the functional assessment of the fall. To evaluate FOF, we applied the 16-item version of the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), (pretest and posttest). This intervention program was based on Adapted Utilitarian Judo and conducted over 8 weeks, with two 60-minute sessions each week. After analyzing the scores obtained by the subjects in the pre and post FES-I, we found that the intervention with the JUA program had been significant for the experimental group with p ≤ 0.004, and there was an 11.9% decrease in the fear of falling (FES-I pos = 18.17). The results show that after the application of the JUA program there were significant improvements in subjects’ perception of FOF, with this being greater in those who had the highest levels of fear of falling before the intervention.

The Effect of Adapted Utilitarian Judo, as an Educational Innovation, on Fear-of-Falling Syndrome

“…The results obtained with respect to our intervention, in terms of reducing the fear of falling, are consistent with those of Halvarsson, Olsson, Farén, Pettersson, and Ståhle [29]; Logghe et al [30]; Parraca et al [24]; Li, Fisher, Harmer, and McAuley [21]; Brouwer et al [31]; Barnett et al [32]; Dueñas et al [33]; Sattin et al [34] (much larger in the tai chi group than in the education for well-being); Huang [35]; and Toronjo et al [10]. In all of the studies cited, the fear of falling was reduced and they concluded that the interventions were effective.…”

“…Other studies were based on vibration training [25], as well as on the improvement of balance and flexibility [26][27][28]. However, regarding research like the present study in which AUJ is implemented to reduce the fear of falling, we only found the one conducted by Toronjo et al [10].…”

“…There are studies stating that the practice of physical activity and modifications at home are effective measures for reducing the risk of older people falling [6]. A review of the scientific literature on interventions to prevent older people from falling [7][8][9] shows that physical activity has significant beneficial effects on the older population, but there is still no consensus on the individual impact of different sporting exercises on the specific characteristics of the physical abilities of older people [10].…”

Efectos de un programa de judo utilitario adaptado sobre un adulto de 54 años. Estudio de caso

“…Con respecto a la variable del miedo a caer, el STAC, medido a través del FES-I, observamos que nuestro sujeto obtiene una mejora de 5 puntos tras la intervención, obteniendo como puntuación inicial 27 puntos y fi nal 22 puntos. Situándonos en el estudio de Toronjo-Hornillo (28), donde se establece tres niveles de clasifi cación para este cuestionario, siendo de 16 a 19 puntos, un nivel bajo de miedo a caer, de 20 a 27 puntos un nivel moderado, y de 28 a 64 puntos, un nivel alto, esta puntuación indica que el sujeto empezó la intervención presentando un grado moderadoalto de miedo a caer, mientras que tras la intervención, ha conseguido que su miedo a caer sea moderado.…”

“…Por otro lado, cuando nos planteamos conocer cómo infl uye la aplicación del JUA en la salud de nuestro sujeto de estudio, tras analizar los resultados obtenidos en el SF-36, observamos que esta intervención ha infl uido positivamente en el estado de salud de nuestro sujeto, 2022;11(2): 1-14 principalmente en la dimensión de salud mental, que es el grado de depresión, ansiedad, control de la conducta y bienestar general del sujeto (28).…”