Effect of Guided Relaxation and Imagery on Falls Self-Efficacy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives To examine the effects of guided relaxation and imagery (GRI) on improvement in falls self-efficacy in older adults who report having a fear of falling. Design Randomized, controlled trial with allocation to GRI or guided relaxation with music of choice. Setting General community. Participants Ninety-one men and women aged 60 to 92. Intervention Participants were randomized to listen to a GRI audio compact disk (intervention group) or a guided relaxation audio compact disk and music of choice (control group) twice a week for 6weeks for 10minutes per session. Measurements Primary outcome measure was the Short Falls Efficacy ScaleInternational (FES-I). Secondary outcome measures were the Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (LTEQ) and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) mobility test. Results GRI participants reported greater improvements on the Short FES-I (P=.002) and LTEQ (P=.001) scores and shorter time on the TUG (P=.002) than the guided relaxation and music-of-choice group. Conclusion GRI was more effective at increasing falls self-efficacy and self-reported leisure time exercise and reducing times on a simple mobility test than was guided relaxation with music of choice. GRI is an effective, simple, low-cost tool for older adults to improve falls self-efficacy and leisure time exercise behaviors.