Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Training to Reduce Postural Sway and Increase Functional Reach in the Elderly

  • Published:
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Poor balance is one of the most common risk factors for falling, a common cause of work-related injury and death. To evaluate the effects of a 10-week intervention program on balance in older adults, 12 participants aged 61–77 years (age = 70.4 ± 5.4 years; mean ± SD) completed an exercise program (60 min, 2 days · week−1 for 10 weeks) performed while laying/sitting on large air-filled exercise balls (Thera-Band®). Several postural sway composite scores (determined while standing with feet apart and semitandem, eyes open and closed) improved (p ≤ 0.05) including medial–lateral amplitude and speed of sway (reduced by ∼9%), and instantaneous speed (reduced by ∼13%). Reductions in XY area approached (p = 0.06) statistical significance and anterior–posterior amplitude and speed of sway did not change. Functional reach also improved (20.3%). These results suggest that challenging the physiological systems involved in balance control while on the nonstable support surface of the exercise balls improves both static and dynamic balance in older adults and may reduce the risk for falling.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. National Safety Council. Injury facts TM , 2000 edition, Itasca, IL: National Safety Council, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Gryfe CI, Amies A, Ashley MJ. A longitudinal study of falls in an elderly population: I. Incidence and morbidity. Age Ageing 1977; 6: 201-210.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Baker SP, Harvey AH. Fall injuries in the elderly. Clin Geriatr Med 1985; 1: 501-512.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kannus P, Parkkari J, Koskinen S, Niemi S, Palvanen M, Jarvinen M, Vuori I. Fall-induced injuries and deaths among older adults. JAMA 1999; 281: 1895-1899.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cummings SR, Kelsey JL, Nevitt MC, O'Dowd KJ. Epidemiology of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. Epidemiol Rev 1985; 7: 178-208.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Lindsay R. The burden of osteoporosis: cost. Am J Med 1995; 98: 9S-11S.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Tinetti ME, Speechley M. Prevention of falls among the elderly. N Engl J Med 1989; 320: 1055-1059.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Nickens H. Intrinsic factors in falling among the elderly. Arch Intern Med 1985; 145: 1089-1093.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Nashner LM. Practical biomechanics and physiology of balance. In: Jacobson GP, Newman CW, Kartush JM, eds. Handbook of balance function testing. St. Louis, MO: Mosby-Year Book, Inc., 1993, pp. 261-279.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Tanaka T, Noriyasu S, Ino S, Ifukube T, Nakata M. Objective method of determining the contribution of the great toe to standing balance and preliminary observations of age-related effects. IEEE Trans Rehabil Eng 1996; 4: 84-90.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hageman PA, Leibowitz JM, Blanke D. Age and gender effects on postural control measures. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1995; 76: 961-965.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Era P, Heikkinen E. Postural sway during standing and unexpected disturbance of balance in random samples of men of different ages. J Gerontol 1985; 40: M287-M295.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Crilly RG, Richardson LD, Roth JH, Vandervoort AA, Hayes KC, Mackenzie RA. Postural stability and Colles' fracture. Age Ageing 1987; 16: 133-138.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Duncan PW, Weiner DK, Chandler J, Studenski S. Functional reach: A new clinical measure of balance. J Gerontol 1990; 45: M93-M98.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kovar MG, LaCroix AZ. Aging in the eighties, ability to perform work-related activities. Natl Cent Health Stat Adv Data 1987; 136: 1-12.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wolfson L, Whipple MA, Derby CA, Amerman P, Murphy T, Tobin JN, Nashner L. A dynamic posturography study of balance in healthy elderly. Neurology 1992; 42: 2069-2075.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Era P, Schroll M, Ytting H, Gause-Nilsson I, Heikkinen E, Steen B. Postural balance and its sensory-motor correlates in 75-year-old men and women: A cross-national comparative study. J Gerontol 1996; 51A: M53-M63.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Porter MM, Vandervoort AA, Lexell J. Aging of human muscle: structure, function, and adaptability. Scand J Med Sci Sports 1995; 5: 129-142.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Slobolunov SM, Moss SA, Slobounova ES, Newell KM. Aging and time to instability in posture. J Gerontol 1998; 53A: B71-B78.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Hasan SS, Lichtenstein MJ, Shiavi RG. Effects of loss of balance on biomechanics platform measures of sway: Influence of stance and a method for adjustment. J Biomech 1990; 23: 783-789.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Binder EF, Brown M, Craft S, Schechtman KB, Birge SJ. Effects of a group exercise program on risk factors for falls in frail older adults. JAPA 1994; 2: 25-37.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hopkins DR, Murrah B, Hoeger WWK, Rhodes RC. Effect of low-impact aerobic dance on the functional fitness of elderly women. Gerontologist 1990; 30: 189-192.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Brown M, Holloszy JO. Effects of a low intensity exercise program on selected physical performance characteristics of 60-to 70-years olds. Aging 1991; 3: 129-139.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Crilly RG, Willems DA, Trenholm KJ, Hayes KC, Delaquerriere-Richardson LFO. Effect of exercise on postural sway in the elderly. Gerontology 1989; 35: 137-143.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Jirovec MM. The impact of daily exercise on the mobility, balance and urine control of cognitively impaired nursing home residents. Int J Nurs Studies 1991; 28: 145-151.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Berg KO, Maki BE, Williams JI, Holliday PJ, Wood-Dauphinee SI. Clinical and laboratory measures of postural balance in the elderly population. Am Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1992; 73: 1073-1080.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Lichtenstein MJ, Shields SL, Shiavi RG, Burger MC. Clinical determinants of biomechanics platform measures of balance in aged woman. J Am Geriatr Soc 1998; 36: 996-1002.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Era P. Posture control in the elderly. Int J Technol Aging 1988; 1: 16-179.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Lichtenstein MJ, Shields SL, Shiavi RG, Burger C. Exercise and balance in aged women: A pilot controlled clinical trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1989; 7: 138-143.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Telian SA, Shepard NT, Smith-Wheelock M, Kemink JL. Habitation therapy for chronic vestibular dysfunction: Preliminary results. J Otolaryngol Head, Neck Surg 1990; 103: 89-95.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Brandt T, Buchele W, Krafczyk S. Training effects on experimental posture instability: A model for clinical ataxia therapy. In: Blesland W, Brandt T, eds. Disorders of posture and gait. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science, 1986, pp. 353-365.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Physical Activity and Aging, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Studies, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas

    Michael E. Rogers & Ruth M. Bohlken

  2. Exponent, Alexandria, Virginia

    Jeffrey E. Fernandez

Authors
  1. Michael E. Rogers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeffrey E. Fernandez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ruth M. Bohlken
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael E. Rogers.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rogers, M.E., Fernandez, J.E. & Bohlken, R.M. Training to Reduce Postural Sway and Increase Functional Reach in the Elderly. J Occup Rehabil 11, 291–298 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013300725964

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013300725964

Search

Navigation