BACKGROUND Falls are two to four times more frequent amongst older adults living in long-term care (LTC) than community-dwelling older adults and have deleterious consequences. It is hypothesised that a progressive exercise program targeting balance and strength will reduce fall rates when compared to a seated exercise program and do so cost effectively. METHODS/DESIGN This is a single blind, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial with blinded assessment of outcome and intention-to-treat analysis. LTC residents (age ≥ 65 years) will be recruited from LTC facilities in New Zealand. Participants (n = 528 total, with a 1:1 allocation ratio) will be randomly assigned to either a novel exercise program (Staying UpRight), comprising strength and balance exercises designed specifically for LTC and acceptable to people with dementia (intervention group), or a seated exercise program (control group). The intervention and control group classes will be delivered for 1 h twice weekly over 1 year. The primary outcome is rate of falls (per 1000 person years) within the intervention period. Secondary outcomes will be risk of falling (the proportion of fallers per group), fall rate relative to activity exposure, hospitalisation for fall-related injury, change in gait variability, volume and patterns of ambulatory activity and change in physical performance assessed at baseline and after 6 and 12 months. Cost-effectiveness will be examined using intervention and health service costs. The trial commenced recruitment on 30 November 2018. DISCUSSION This study evaluates the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a progressive strength and balance exercise program for aged care residents to reduce falls. The outcomes will aid development of evidenced-based exercise programmes for this vulnerable population. TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12618001827224. Registered on 9 November 2018. Universal trial number U1111-1217-7148.

中文翻译：

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评估一项针对长期护理中的老年人的运动计划（Staying UpRight）对跌倒率的影响：一项随机对照试验的研究方案。

背景技术在长期护理（LTC）中，老年人跌倒的频率是居住在社区中的老年人的两倍至四倍，并且具有有害的后果。假设与坐式锻炼计划相比，针对平衡和力量的渐进式锻炼计划将降低跌倒率，并且这样做具有成本效益。方法/设计这是一项单盲，平行组，随机对照试验，对结果和意向性治疗分析进行了盲法评估。LTC居民（年龄≥65岁）将从新西兰的LTC设施中招募。参与者（n = 528，总分配比例为1：1）将被随机分配至一项新颖的锻炼计划（Staying UpRight），包括专为LTC设计且适合痴呆症患者（干预组）或就坐运动计划（对照组）的力量和平衡运动。干预和对照组的课程将在1年内每周两次，每次1小时。主要结果是干预期内的跌倒率（每1000人年）。次要结果将是跌倒的风险（每组跌倒的比例），相对于活动暴露的跌倒率，因跌倒引起的伤害住院，步态变异性，门诊活动量和方式的变化以及基线和评估时身体机能的变化在6和12个月后。将使用干预和卫生服务成本来检查成本效益。该试验于2018年11月30日开始招募。讨论本研究评估了渐进式力量和平衡运动计划对老年护理居民减少跌倒的功效和成本效益。结果将有助于为这一脆弱人群制定循证锻炼计划。试验注册澳大利亚新西兰临床试验注册中心ACTRN12618001827224。2018年11月9日注册。通用注册号U1111-1217-7148。