The effect of a 5-week wobble-board exercise intervention on ability to discriminate different degrees of ankle inversion, barefoot and wearing shoes: a study in healthy elderly.
OBJECTIVE
There is some evidence of an improvement in falls risk in the elderly after completing a wobble-board training program. This study examined the effects of wobble-board training on ability to discriminate between different extents of ankle inversion movements in a group of older subjects, tested wearing shoes and barefoot.


METHODS
A randomized, controlled, crossover pilot study.


METHODS
Canberra region, Australia.


METHODS
Twenty community-dwelling subjects aged 65 to 85 participated in this study; all were in good health with no known disorder of the musculoskeletal system.


METHODS
The accuracy with which subjects could identify a set of ankle inversion movements of different extents was measured, with testing conducted in an upright, weightbearing stance.


METHODS
The effects of a 5-week training program using a wobble board modified for data logging or a period of normal activity only were assessed. Subjects underwent an ankle movement discrimination test pre- and posttraining, with shoes on and off.


RESULTS
Greater improvement in ankle movement discrimination capability was made in subjects who underwent wobble-board training than in subjects who did not train (F(1,18)=11.2, P=.003). Active movements at the ankle were also significantly better discriminated throughout when subjects were wearing shoes than when barefoot (F(1,18)=40.6, P=.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Training with a wobble board provides a simple in-home intervention that improves ability to differentiate between extent of movements into ankle inversion in subjects aged 65 and older. Research on trip and fall frequency after wobble-board use is needed before such training could be widely used.
Waddington
Gordon S
GS
Canberra Research Annexe, School of Physiotherapy, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Woden ACT, Australia. g.waddington@fhs.usyd.edu.au
Adams
Roger D
RD
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000842:Ankle / Q000502:physiology*; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001315:Australia; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors; D012775:Shoes / Q000592:standards*; D013484:Supination / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome