title: The use of step aerobics and the stability ball to improve balance and quality of life in community-dwelling older adults - a randomized exploratory study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the use of step aerobics (SA) and the stability ball (SB) as tools for balance improvement in community-dwelling older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two women (age: 72.2±5.8 years) who attended a community day center volunteered to participate in the study. Following the first assessment session, 28 women were assigned randomly to one of two experimental groups (the use of either SA or SB). The other 14 participants, who were engaged in a ceramic class, served as the control group. The study design was based on four assessment sessions and eight weeks of intervention. Assessment included four balance tests: Timed Up and Go (TUG), One-Leg Stand, Functional Reach, and the Performance-Oriented Assessment of Mobility (POMA). Quality of life was assessed by the use of the Short Form-36 Health Survey questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TUG and POMA intervention improved significantly (d=.83 and d=.95, respectively) following the SA. In addition, general health perception following both the SA and SB interventions improved significantly relative to the control condition (d=.62 and d=.22, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study may imply that trainers should consider the inclusion of SA and SB as components of physical activity programs for seniors, aimed at improving balance ability and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: The Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel. Electronic address: ayelet@wincol.ac.il.
authors.forename: Ayelet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dunsky
authors.affiliation: The Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel.
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yahalom
authors.affiliation: The Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arnon
authors.affiliation: The Zinman College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Wingate Institute, Netanya, Israel.
authors.forename: Ronnie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lidor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D004856:Postural Balance; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Balance; Fall prevention; Older adults; Physical activity