The quasi-experimental study involved two groups of
community-dwelling older adults, over the age of 65
years, with no known neurologic diagnoses and a selfreported
history of two or more falls in the previous 6
months. Subjects involved in the exercise program were
selected from among the first 101 patients referred by
their physicians to the Safety and Gait Enhancement
Program (a fall-intervention program for older adults)
of Northwest Hospital (Seattle, Wash) who met the study
criteria and agreed to participate. Seventeen participants
(14%) in the exercise program dropped out within the
first 3 weeks; therefore, the number of exercisers