Improving balance by improving motor skills.
The effectiveness of a computer-assisted balance training was compared with a home based exercise program in healthy elderly subjects. Twenty-four physically active community dwelling elderly (median age 71 years) participated in the study. Balance was assessed by a summary performance score, measuring postural stability while standing, reaching, stepping and walking. Subjects of the computer-assisted balance training group could considerably improve their performance on the training device (p = 0.0078) as well as in the summary balance score (p = 0.0176). No improvement of balance was documented in the home-based exercise group. A superiority of the computer-assisted balance training exercise protocol over the home-based exercise group could not be documented (p = 0.3934). The study indicates that a computer-assisted balance training, focussing on one motor skill, can improve balance. It is suggested that a home-based exercise program is ineffective to improve balance in elderly persons, if there is no direct supervision.
Bethesda Geriatric Hospital Ulm, Academic Centre at the University of Ulm, Zollernring 26-28, 89073 Ulm, Germany.
U
U
Lindemann
K
K
Rupp
R
R
Muche
T
T
Nikolaus
C
C
Becker
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome