title: Independent static balance training contributes to increased stability and functional capacity in community-dwelling elderly people: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of independently conducted static balance exercises within a fall-safe environment in elderly participants engaging in independent training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized two-group parallel controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retirement center, community dwelling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects, 25 male and female volunteers (aged 82.6  ±  6.1 years; weight 69.9  ±  97  kg; height 165  ±  6.9 cm; body mass index (BMI) 25.6  ±  2.6) residing in independent living facilities were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental group engaged in standing, static balancing, and mild leg exercise 12 minutes per session, three times per week for 12 weeks. Exercises were done independent of spotters within a rigid frame consisting of tethers connected to the subject so that he or she could not fall. The control group were given literature on prevention of falls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Functional ability and balance was assessed using the following tests: 30-second chair stand test, 8-foot up and go test, Berg Balance Scale, and a step-up test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison by repeated-measures ANOVA of the performance before and after the 12-week intervention yielded significant (P  <  0.01) improvement for the experimental group over the control group in the 30-second chair test repetitions, in the 8-foot up and go test, in the balance assessment and in the leg function assessments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standing, static balance exercises conducted independently without safety supervision led to improvements in balance, functional ability, and leg functioning in frail elderly people.
authors.affiliation: Health and Human Performance, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. bert.jacobson@okstate.edu
authors.forename: Bert H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: Brennan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Tia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rial
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*