‘Real world’ effectiveness of the Falls Management Exercise (FaME) programme: an implementation study

Abstract Background Falls incidence increases with age alongside declines in strength and balance. Clinical trials show that the Falls Management Exercise (FaME) programme improves strength and balance, which can reduce falls and improve physical functioning. Objective To determine if the clinical trial efficacy of FaME translates into effectiveness in non-research settings. Design and setting An implementation study of FaME in 10 local authorities across the East Midlands region of England. Subjects Adults aged 65 and over enrolled on a FaME programme. Method Anonymised outcome data collected by the FaME providers were compared at baseline, end of programme and 6 months follow-up using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results For 348 adults enrolled in programmes and analysed, the mean age was 76.8, 73% were female and 143 (41%) completed ≥75% of classes. Overall confidence in balance, fear of falling, functional reach and timed-up-and-go (all P