5 The effectiveness of a nation-wide implemented fall prevention intervention in the Netherlands | 91 trends. However, differences in how fall prevention interventions are organized should be considered when applying these results in international contexts. CONCLUSIONS The implemented In Balance fall prevention intervention resulted in no statistically significant reduction in falls and fall-related injuries. Nonetheless, all differences were in favor of the intervention group. This may be explained by the possibly insufficient frequency and duration of the program. To achieve long-term benefits from fall prevention interventions, attention should be given to follow-up activities. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We want to thank all participants and therapists for participating in this study. Moreover, this research was funded by a research grant (#555002018) from the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. APPENDIX 5.1: TRIAL TREATMENT MANUAL OF THE IN BALANCE FALL PREVENTION INTERVENTION Intervention group The In Balance intervention is a fourteen-week group programme for older adults at risk of falls and is provided by registered and certified physical therapists and exercise therapists (151). The aim of the intervention is to reduce falls by increasing awareness, balance and strength by combining educational and exercise components. The intervention consists of three phases. The first phase (week 1) comprises one information meeting about physical activity, the impact a fall can have on a person’s life and health, and the purpose of the In Balance intervention. In the second phase (week 2-4), there are three weekly educational meetings about increasing awareness of one’s fall risk and balance disturbance, increasing knowledge about how to implement effective fall prevention methods, and getting acquainted with the upcoming training weeks. The third phase (week 5-14) consists of a physical exercise programme with two one-hour training sessions per week. Exercises are derived from principles of Tai Chi, with balance and strength elements and with emphasis on standing strong and shifting weight. Education and Tai Chi exercises are known to be effective in reducing the incidence of falls (152-154). After each session, the participants receive homework, consisting
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