The Otago Exercise Programme (OEP) is a home-based, individually customized strength and balance retraining programme. A physiotherapist carries out the OEP. It is to be performed for a period of over 12 months. The physiotherapist will make regular home visits (5-6) during that period and also has to call the participant every month to encourage adherence. Falls in elderly people causes considerable physical and psychological damage to the individual. Falls also invite large costs for the treatments. Thus, OEP has been found and been proven to reduce falls.

Studies show that OEP has been efficient in reducing the risk of death and rate of falls over 12 month period in elderly. A 35% reduction in falls was reported in one study.

The OEP is composed of 5 strengthening exercises and 12 balance exercises. These exercises are to be performed 3 times in a week. Also, participants are asked to walk 2 times in a week for 30 minutes. Taking into consideration the individual’s strength and mobility, exercises are progressed. For example, adding hand weights while squatting and other weight-bearing exercises or increasing the number of repetitions.

Exercises are started with 10 repetitions of each.
Strengthening exercise –

1. Knee extensor
2. Knee flexor
3. Hip abductors
4. Ankle plantarflexors (heel raises)
5. Ankle dorsiflexors (toe raises)

Balance exercises –

1. Knee bends
2. Backwards walking
3. Walking and turning around
4. Sideways walking
5. Tandem standing
6. Tandem walking
7. One leg standing
8. Heel walking
9. Toe walking
10. Heel toe walking backwards
11. Sit to stand
12. Stair climbing

Indications - Elderly people especially those above the age of 80 years who are at risk of falling.
Those elderly individuals who already have experienced a fall and even those who have not.
Individuals with strength and balance deficits, who are unable to complete the chair stand test or the four-test balance scale.
Any elderly individual concerned with maintaining and improving their strength, balance and ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).