Effects of balance training program on falling risk and static balance of elderly women

ABSTARCT: Ageing is associated with a deterioration of various physiological, physical and biomechanical parameters which consequently results in increased falling accidents. Falling is one of the major leading causes of injury-related hospitalization in older people and may end with a very serious health-related impact such as death. There are some evidences that falling risk can be reduced by different rehabilitation, exercise programs and with education. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of balance training on falling risk and postural controlin elderly women. Method: 40 elderly women (age: 72.3 ± 10.2, height: 142.2 ± 18.2 and weight: 51.2 ± 11.7) voluntarily participated in present study from a local pension of Isfahan. Their static balance was evaluated by Tandem and semi-Tandem tests. Using Berg questionnaire, the falling risk was evaluated. Then the subjects were divided into experimental and control groups. Experimental group underwent an eight weeks (three sessions per week) balance training program. The control groups did not participate in any training program. The evaluations were repeated after the treatment sessions. Within group comparisons was carried out by paired t-tests, where between groups comparisons was performed by t test for independent samples. Pearson correlation was also used to assess any possible correlations between variables (? < 0.05). Results: Falling risk was significantly correlated with balance performance (r=0.69, p=0.000). After balance training the ability of older womenin Tandem (P=0.02), semi-Tandem (P=0.007) were significantly improved. Also exercise reduced the falling risk significantly (P=0.001). Conclusion: Balance training improved postural control and reduced risk of fall in older women. This method is recommended for elderly’s rehabilitation.