title: Specific balance training included in an endurance-resistance exercise program improves postural balance in elderly patients undergoing haemodialysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 6 months of specific balance training included in endurance-resistance program on postural balance in haemodialysis (HD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine male patients undergoing HD were randomly assigned to an intervention group (balance training included in an endurance-resistance training, n = 26) or a control group (resistance-endurance training only, n = 23). Postural control was assessed using six clinical tests; Timed Up and Go test, Tinetti Mobility Test, Berg Balance Scale, Unipodal Stance test, Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test and Activities Balance Confidence scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All balance measures increased significantly after the period of rehabilitation training in the intervention group. Only the Timed Up and Go, Berg Balance Scale, Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test and Activities Balance Confidence scores were improved in the control group. The ranges of change in these tests were greater in the balance training group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In HD patients, specific balance training included in a usual endurance-resistance training program improves static and dynamic balance better than endurance-resistance training only. Implications for rehabilitation Rehabilitation using exercise in haemodialysis patients improved global mobility and functional abilities. Specific balance training included in usual endurance resistance training program could lead to improved static and dynamic balance.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biochemistry: Human Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders: "Functional Foods and Vascular Health" LR12ES05, Faculty of Medicine of Monastir , Monastir , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Bechir
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frih
authors.affiliation: b Department of Research: Exercise Physiology and Pathophysiology: "Biology, Medicine and Health" UR12ES06, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse , Sousse , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Wajdi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mkacher
authors.affiliation: c Institut de recherche de l'Hôpital Montfort , Ottawa , Canada.|d Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine , University of Ottawa , Ottawa , Canada.
authors.forename: Hamdi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jaafar
authors.affiliation: e Nephrology and Internal Medicine Service , CHU Monastir , Monastir , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ameur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frih
authors.affiliation: f Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , CHU Monastir , Monastir , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Zohra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ben Salah
authors.affiliation: e Nephrology and Internal Medicine Service , CHU Monastir , Monastir , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mezry
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El May
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biochemistry: Human Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders: "Functional Foods and Vascular Health" LR12ES05, Faculty of Medicine of Monastir , Monastir , Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hammami
mesh_terms: D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D055070:Resistance Training
keywords: Haemodialysis; balance training; older adult; postural control