From Home to Health: The Effectiveness of Otago Exercise Program via Telerehabilitation on Fall-Related Outcomes in Older Adults

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the Otago Exercise Program (OEP), delivered via telerehabilitation, on pain, walking speed, lower extremity muscle strength, fear of falling, anxiety, quality of life, and balance in older adults with a history of falls. A total of 45 participants aged 65-78 were randomized into three groups: Face-to-Face Otago Exercise Group (FFOEG, n=15), Telerehabilitation-Based Otago Exercise Group (TBOEG, n=15), and Control Group (CG, n=15). The intervention consisted of 45-minute sessions, three times per week, for eight weeks. Evaluations were performed at baseline, 4th week, 8th week, and 4 weeks post-intervention using the Numeric Pain Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, 30-Second Sit- to-Stand Test, Falls Efficacy Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, WHOQOL-OLD, and Tinetti Balance and Gait Test. No significant difference was found in demographic variables between the groups (p>0.05). Intra-group analyses showed significant improvements in both intervention groups in most outcomes (p<0.05). Between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in favor of TOEG for fear of falling and balance (p<0.05). These findings support the effectiveness of OEP and suggest that telerehabilitation may be a viable alternative for delivering fall-prevention exercises to older adults in hard-to-reach areas.