scholarly journals Effects of Simple Balance Training on Balance Performance and Fear of Falling in Rural Older Adults

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ladda Thiamwong ◽  
Jom Suwanno
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Rural Older Adults

scholarly journals Using augmented reality technology for balance training in the older adults: a feasibility pilot study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Blomqvist ◽  
Stefan Seipel ◽  
Maria Engström
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Augmented Reality ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Holographic Display ◽  
Impaired Balance ◽  
Further Development

Abstract Background Impaired balance leading to falls is common in the older adults, and there is strong evidence that balance training reduces falls and increases independence. Reduced resources in health care will result in fewer people getting help with rehabilitation training. In this regard, the new technology augmented reality (AR) could be helpful. With AR, the older adults can receive help with instructions and get feedback on their progression in balance training. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of using AR-based visual-interactive tools in balance training of the older adults. Methods Seven older adults (66–88 years old) with impaired balance trained under supervision of a physiotherapist twice a week for six weeks using AR-based visual-interactive guidance, which was facilitated through a Microsoft HoloLens holographic display. Afterwards, participants and physiotherapists were interviewed about the new technology and their experience of the training. Also, fear of falling and balance ability were measured before and after training. Results Five participants experienced the new technology as positive in terms of increased motivation and feedback. Experiences were mixed regarding the physical and technical aspects of the HoloLens and the design of the HoloLens application. Participants also described issues that needed to be further improved, for example, the training program was difficult and monotonous. Further, the HoloLens hardware was felt to be heavy, the application’s menu was difficult to control with different hand manoeuvres, and the calibration took a long time. Suggestions for improvements were described. Results of the balance tests and self-assessment instruments indicated no improvements in balance performance after AR training. Conclusions The study showed that training with the new technology is, to some extent, feasible for the older adults, but needs further development. Also, the technology seemed to stimulate increased motivation, which is a prerequisite for adherence to training. However, the new technology and training requires further development and testing in a larger context.

scholarly journals Effects of Balance Training on Balance Performance in Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. 1721-1738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Lesinski ◽  
Tibor Hortobágyi ◽  
Thomas Muehlbauer ◽  
Albert Gollhofer ◽  
Urs Granacher
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Healthy Older Adults

Transfer Effects of Fall Training on Balance Performance and Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Healthy Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Pilot Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 324-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Donath ◽  
Oliver Faude ◽  
Stephanie A. Bridenbaugh ◽  
Ralf Roth ◽  
Martin Soltermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Stride Length ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Stride Time ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Transfer Effects ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

This study examined transfer effects of fall training on fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale—International [FES–I]), balance performance, and spatiotemporal gait characteristics in older adults. Eighteen community-dwelling older adults (ages 65–85) were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. The intervention group completed 12 training sessions (60 min, 6 weeks). During pre- and posttesting, we measured FES–I, balance performance (double limb, closed eyes; single limb, open eyes; double limb, open eyes with motor-interfered task), and gait parameters (e.g., velocity; cadence; stride time, stride width, and stride length; variability of stride time and stride length) under single- and motor-interfered tasks. Dual tasks were applied to appraise improvements of cognitive processing during balance and gait. FES–I (p = .33) and postural sway did not significantly change (0.36 < p < .79). Trends toward significant interaction effects were found for step width during normal walking and stride length variability during the motor dual task (p = .05, ηp2 = .22). Fall training did not sufficiently improve fear of falling, balance, or gait performance under single- or dual-task conditions in healthy older adults.

scholarly journals Erratum to: Effects of Balance Training on Balance Performance in Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-457
Author(s):  
Melanie Lesinski ◽  
Tibor Hortobágyi ◽  
Thomas Muehlbauer ◽  
Albert Gollhofer ◽  
Urs Granacher
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Healthy Older Adults

scholarly journals Fall prevention among older adults: Case reports exemplifying the value of incorporating lumbar stabilization training during balance exercises

2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Van Der Merwe ◽  
M.A. Wilmarth
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Sit To Stand ◽  
Balance Exercise ◽  
Balance Exercises ◽  
Lumbar Stabilization

Background: Older adults are at risk of fallingeach year. Fall injuries results in many health care expenses anddisabilities, yet non-western countries lack the infra-structure andresources for prevention programs. Balance exercises have beenfound to be a cost effective evidence-based intervention in treatingand preventing falls among older adults in western countries.Purpose: The aim of this report was to show that lumbar stabilizationexercises are not only a beneficial addition to a balanceprogram for the prevention and treatment of falls in older adults,but to demonstrate that these exercise can more rapidly improve thefunctional status of older adults, limiting healthcare costs.Case description: Two high functional older adults with a historyof falls presented with poor balance and fear of falling. Both patientsreceived the same balance exercise regime however lumbar stabilization exercises were added to one of the patient’s exerciseprograms. Gait speed, lower extremity strength and balance were assessed with the Balance Evaluation systems test (BESTest),figure-of-eight, four-step-square (FSST), five-time-sit-to-stand tests (5TSTS) after two weeks and four weeks of treatment.Outcomes. All the outcome measures showed statistically significant improvements. Greater improvements in vertical stabilitylimits (14%), gait speed (9%), stability during gait (20%) and five-time-sit-to-stand test were seen with the addition of lumbarstabilization exercises.Discussion. The addition of lumbar stabilization exercises during balance training is of value to improve gait speed, balancetesting scores in stability in gait and vertical stability limits.

scholarly journals The effects of the Otago Exercise Programme on actual and perceived balance in older adults: A meta-analysis

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0255780
Author(s):  
Huei-Ling Chiu ◽  
Ting-Ting Yeh ◽  
Yun-Ting Lo ◽  
Pei-Jung Liang ◽  
Shu-Chun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Exercise Programme ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Group Setting ◽  
Balance Confidence ◽  
Balance Ability

Objective Falls are serious issues in older populations. Balance problems are a major cause of falls and may lead to fear of falling and decreased balance confidence. The Otago Exercise Programme (OEP) is an effective fall prevention program that benefits balance function and fear of falling. The primary aim of the meta-analysis was to investigate the effectiveness of the OEP intervention on actual balance performance (i.e., static, dynamic, proactive or reactive balance) and perceived balance ability (i.e., balance confidence or fear of falling) for older adults; the secondary aim was to examine which OEP protocol most improves balance in older adults. Methods A systematic electronic review search was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of the OEP on actual balance performance and perceived balance ability in healthy older adults, and examining which OEP training protocol and intervention format most improves balance. Results A total of 12 RCTs were included in the analyses. The OEP exerted significant effects on static balance (Hedges’s g = 0.388; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.131 to 0.645), dynamic balance (g = -0.228; 95% CI = -0.352 to -0.1.4), proactive balance (g = 0.239; 95% CI = 0.061 to 0.416) and perceived balance (g = -0.184; 95% CI = -0.320 to -0.048) in older adults. Subgroup analysis indicated that the group format for the OEP was more effective for improving static (p = 0.008), dynamic (p = 0.004) and perceived balance (p = 0.004) than was the individual format. Sessions of >30 minutes were more effective in improving static (p = 0.007) and perceived balance (p = 0.014) than were sessions of ≤30 minutes. However, the effects of the OEP on balance were unrelated to the types of control group, training frequency and training period. Discussion The OEP is helpful for improving actual balance including static, dynamic, and proactive balance; enhancing confidence in balance control; and reducing fear of falling in older adults. In particular, administrating the OEP in a group setting in >30-minute sessions may be the most appropriate and effective exercise protocol for improving balance.

scholarly journals Balance training improves feedback control of perturbed balance in older adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Alizadehsaravi ◽  
Sjoerd M. Bruijn ◽  
Jaap H. van Dieen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Angular Momentum ◽  
Feedback Control ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
The Body ◽  
Balance Performance ◽  
Short Term

Recovering balance after perturbations becomes challenging with aging, but an effective balance training could reduce such challenges. In this study, we examined the effect of balance training on feedback control after unpredictable perturbations by investigating balance performance, recovery strategy, and muscle synergies. We assessed the effect of balance training on unipedal perturbed balance in twenty older adults (>65 years) after short-term (one session) and long-term (3-weeks) training. Participants were exposed to random medial and lateral perturbations consisting of 8-degree rotations of a robot-controlled balance platform. We measured full-body 3D kinematics and activation of 9 muscles (8 stance leg muscles, one trunk muscle) during 2.5 s after the onset of perturbation. The perturbation was divided into 3 phases: phase1 from the onset to maximum rotation of the platform, phase 2 from the maximum rotation angle to the 0-degree angle and phase 3 after platform movement. Balance performance improved after long-term training as evidenced by decreased amplitudes of center of mass acceleration and rate of change of body angular momentum. The rate of change of angular momentum did not directly contribute to return of the center of mass within the base of support, but it reoriented the body to an aligned and vertical position. The improved performance coincided with altered activation of synergies depending on the direction and phase of the perturbation. We concluded that balance training improves control of perturbed balance, and reorganizes feedback responses, by changing temporal patterns of muscle activation. These effects were more pronounced after long-term than short-term training.

scholarly journals Perturbation-based balance training to improve balance control and reduce falls in older adults – study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marissa H. G. Gerards ◽  
Rik G. J. Marcellis ◽  
Martijn Poeze ◽  
Antoine F. Lenssen ◽  
Kenneth Meijer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Falls In Older Adults

Abstract Background Falls are a common cause of injuries and hospitalization among older adults. While conventional balance training appears effective in preventing falls, a relatively large number of training sessions are needed and retention of the effects after the training period is hard to accomplish. This may be because these interventions are not sufficiently task-specific for the mechanism of falls. Many falls in older adults occur due to unexpected external perturbations during gait, such as trips. Therefore, there is increasing interest in perturbation-based balance training (PBT), which is a more task-specific intervention to improve reactive balance control after unexpected perturbations. The literature suggests that PBT may be more effective and require fewer training sessions to reduce falls incidence in older adults, than conventional balance training. We aim to evaluate the effect of a three-session PBT protocol on balance control, daily life falls and fear of falling. Secondly, we will evaluate the acceptability of the PBT protocol. Methods This is a mixed-methods study combining a single-blind (outcome assessor) randomized controlled trial (RCT) using a parallel-group design, and qualitative research evaluating the acceptability of the intervention. The study sample consists of community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older who have recently fallen and visited the MUMC+ outpatient clinic. Subjects are randomized into two groups. The control group (n = 40) receives usual care, meaning referral to a physical therapist. The intervention group (n = 40) receives usual care plus three 30-min sessions of PBT in the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment. Subjects’ balance control (Mini-BESTest) and fear of falling (FES-I) will be assessed at baseline, and 4 weeks and 3 months post-baseline. Daily life falls will be recorded with falls calendars until 6 months after the first follow-up measurement, long-term injurious falls will be recorded at 2-years’ follow-up via the electronic patient record. Acceptability of the PBT protocol will be evaluated with semi-structured interviews in a subsample from the intervention group. Discussion This study will contribute to the evidence for the effectiveness of PBT using a training protocol based on the available literature, and also give much needed insights into the acceptability of PBT for older adults. Trial registration Nederlands Trial Register NL7680. Registered 17-04-2019 – retrospectively registered.

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