Balance Training Effect on Gait Parameters and Quality of Life in Elderly
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- Category: Vol. 85, March 2017
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Balance Training Effect on Gait Parameters and Quality of Life in Elderly, MARIAN M. WAHBA, ZAHRA M.H. SERRY, SAMAH M. ISMAIL and AMIRA G. EL-TALIAWI
Abstract
Background: The number of older people in Egypt in 2013 reached 6,461078 persons, 7.8% of the total population. Elderly people generally want to live independently as long as possible, which requires them to be able to engage in self-care and other activities of daily living. So exercise is very important to avoid death caused by falls, improve gait patterns in dealing with variety of elderly problems this can by reduce economic cost of elderly.
Aim of the Study: This study was designed to find out the effect of balance training on gait and quality of life in elderly.
Subjects and Methods: Twenty elderly subjects of both sexes were selected randomly from Dar Saidat Misr, Cairo, Egypt . Their mean age (64.9±2.4) years and BMI (25.66±2.48) kg/m2. Each subject in the study perform balance exercise 30 minutes 3 times per week for 8 weeks. Foot print measurement (step, stride length, cadence and speed), six minute walk test and quality of life questionnaire collected pre and post the study.
Results: The analysis of mean values of gait parameters, distance and quality of life between pre and post training showed significant difference as in: Step length showed significant difference with mean difference 2.35cm and p-value <0.0, stride length showed significant difference with mean difference 3.65cm and p-value <0.0, cadence showed difference and its mean difference 0.154 step/sec and p-value <0.0, but speed showed non significant difference with mean difference 0.03 and p-value >0.0, six minute walk test showed significant difference with mean difference 84.4m and p-value <0.0 and also finally, quality of life showed significant difference with mean difference 20.55 and its p-value <0.0.
Conclusion: Balance training had an effect on improving gait parameters except speed and also, improve walking distance and quality of life significantly.