Fractures from falls and osteoporosis are a major health problem, becoming more common with age. Half of women over 50 will get a fracture, with hip fractures being the most serious type, where about a quarter of patients die within a year. Sweden has high fracture risk among the elderly, expected to rise with an aging population.
Researchers published a study examining long-term effects of fall prevention and targeted medication. It included women aged 70–100, following 434 in Vislanda from 2002–2004, compared to twice as many in adjacent municipalities. All in the treatment group received lifestyle advice, exercise instructions, and fall risk information.
The remarkable thing was that we focused on physical training among the women with the highest hip fracture risk, and not only on medication against osteoporosis as is otherwise common.
Those at highest risk also got home and group training focusing on physical activity, strength, and balance, plus measures to reduce home fall risks. All were offered bone density measurement, with high-risk cases combining training with osteoporosis medication, calcium with vitamin D, and sometimes bisphosphonate. ' Follow-ups showed participants trained more at home and improved their ability to rise from sitting.
Albertsson added, 'The ability to rise is a very important marker. ' This ability strongly connects to survival and future health. After 20 years, repeated fractures were 23% lower in the treatment group.
The ability to rise is a very important marker. At the 10-year follow-up, we see that there is a difference of over 4 years in life expectancy between those who can rise from a chair five times (without helping with their arms) and those who cannot.
Unpublished results show the annual fracture risk also clearly decreased. Researchers noted hip fractures and life expectancy seemed to improve slightly, but these differences were uncertain and not statistically significant.