Balance training using Pedalo equipment for improving balance and fear of falling in elderly people: A preliminary study

Subtitle:

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lee, GyuChang

Affiliations: Department of Physical Therapy, Kyungnam University, 7 Kyungnamdaehak-ro, Masanhappo-gu, Changwon-si 631-701, Korea. Tel.: +82 55 249 2739; Fax: +82 505 999 2173; E-mail: leegc76@kyungnam.ac.kr

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Falls are a major health problem among the elderly, and balance exercises can improve balance in the elderly and help reduce the risk of falls. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of balance training using Pedalo equipment on balance and fear of falling in elderly people. METHODS: Nineteen elderly people participated in this study center. Subjects performed balance training using four types of Pedalo equipment: the Stabilizer Therapy, Reha-Wipp, Reha-Bar, and Spring Board, for 30 minutes, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. The Force platform, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test were used to evaluate balance function, and the Fall Efficacy Scale (FES) was used to evaluate fear of falling. RESULTS: Following six weeks of balance training using the Pedalo equipment, path length and sway velocity in both the eyes open and closed conditions were significantly improved compared with those at baseline (p< 0.05), as well as on BBS, TUG, and FES (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Balance training on the Pedalo equipment appears to significantly improve balance in elderly people and reduces their anxiety regarding falls. We conclude that use of such equipment may help elderly people improve their balance and consequently reduce their risk of falling.

Keywords: Elderly, balance training, falls

DOI: 10.3233/IES-150581

Journal: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 199-203, 2015