title: A novel sensorimotor movement and walking intervention to improve balance and gait in women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 5-day mind-body exercise (MBE) program on measures of quality of life, balance, balance confidence, mobility and gait in community-dwelling women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MBE program was a 5-day retreat where multiple sessions of Feldenkrais(®)-based sensorimotor movement training and walking were performed daily. Forty-six women aged 40-80 years old participated in either the MBE program or maintained normal daily activity. Two-footed eyes-closed balance, gait characteristics, mobility via the Timed Up and Go test, balance confidence and quality of life were assessed before and after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women in the MBE group experienced improvements in mobility (6%; p = 0.01), stride length (3%; p = 0.008), single limb support time (1.3%; 0.006), balance confidence (5.2%; p < 0.001) and quality of life (p < 0.05) while the control group did not change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This short-term intensive program may be beneficial to women at risk of mobility limitations.
authors.affiliation: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA. Electronic address: summer.cook@unh.edu.
authors.forename: Summer B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Dain P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: LaRoche
authors.affiliation: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Erik E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.affiliation: Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Precious R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.affiliation: Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Marjorie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Aging; Balance; Feldenkrais; Gait; Women