Balance Performance and Step Width before and after Balance Training in the Elderly

平衡運動訓練前後老年人之平衡表現及步寬的改變

傅麗蘭(Li-Lan Fu)

《中華民國物理治療學會雜誌》 23卷2期 (1998/04) Pp. 98-105

https://doi.org/10.29616/JPTAROC.199804.0004

摘要

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of balance exercise training on balance performance and the walking pattern of older women. Subjects' balance performance was measured using the one legged stance test with the eyes open. A record of each subject's gait was made from magic markers attached to the heel of the subject's shoes prior to walking on a brown paper walkway. The gait characteristic measured was step width obtained from the heel marks. Twenty-three women over 60 years of age were recruited from a senior citizen center. Subjects were randomized into two subgroups, group A (experimental) and group B (delayed-intervention). The two groups were comparable in age, years of education, and pre-test measures of one legged stance time and step width. The experimental group A participated in a four weeks balance exercise training program (three times per week for four weeks). Following the exercise intervention both groups were tested again. A two factor ANOVA was conducted to determine the difference between pre-test and post-test measures across the two groups. The changes in one legged stance time and step width differed significantly between groups (p＜.001, p＜.05). The paired t-test of differences within group B after group B received the balance exercise training also indicated significant differences in one legged stance time (p＜.0l), but no difference in the step width (p＞.0.5). This present study demonstrated: (a) performance on the one legged stance test for balance can be improved following a specially designed balance exercise training program, and (b) the effects of balance exercised training on the step width parameter of gait are inconsistent in demonstrating a decrease in step width with training.

關鍵字

平衡 ； 運動訓練 ； 老年人

並列摘要

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of balance exercise training on balance performance and the walking pattern of older women. Subjects' balance performance was measured using the one legged stance test with the eyes open. A record of each subject's gait was made from magic markers attached to the heel of the subject's shoes prior to walking on a brown paper walkway. The gait characteristic measured was step width obtained from the heel marks. Twenty-three women over 60 years of age were recruited from a senior citizen center. Subjects were randomized into two subgroups, group A (experimental) and group B (delayed-intervention). The two groups were comparable in age, years of education, and pre-test measures of one legged stance time and step width. The experimental group A participated in a four weeks balance exercise training program (three times per week for four weeks). Following the exercise intervention both groups were tested again. A two factor ANOVA was conducted to determine the difference between pre-test and post-test measures across the two groups. The changes in one legged stance time and step width differed significantly between groups (p＜.001, p＜.05). The paired t-test of differences within group B after group B received the balance exercise training also indicated significant differences in one legged stance time (p＜.0l), but no difference in the step width (p＞.0.5). This present study demonstrated: (a) performance on the one legged stance test for balance can be improved following a specially designed balance exercise training program, and (b) the effects of balance exercised training on the step width parameter of gait are inconsistent in demonstrating a decrease in step width with training.

並列關鍵字

Balance ； Exercise ； Elderly