Effects of task oriented balance training program with or without altered sensory input on balance and functional performance in community dwelling older adults

The adaptation of regular exercises with the use of surface and vision manipulation to challenge the balance could improve the process of somatosensory integration and have a positive effect on postural stability. This type of intervention has further shown to be effective at improving postural stability in neurologically intact elderly people. Exercise interventions in the form of task oriented exercise programs, are now recognized as a new strategy to improve to improve the balance and functional status of chronic stroke individuals. So the purpose of this study was to see the effect of task oriented balance training program with or without altered sensory input on Balance and functional performance in older adults.

A pre-post experimental design was used in this study.

48 community dwelling elderly adults (> 65 yrs of age) participated in the study. These subjects were randomly allocated to one of the two groups: Group 1 (n=24) was administered with Task oriented balance training programme with altered sensory input and Group 2 (n=24) was administered with task oriented balance training programme without altered sensory input.

The balance performance of the subjects was evaluated on Berg Balance Scale, Modified clinical test of sensory interaction for balance and functional performance of subjects was evaluated on Ten meter walk test. Each group performed program of balance training exercises and then ended up the session with 10 minute cool down period.

The subjects in both groups were benefited from balance training program with a significant improvement in postintervention balance course on Berg Balance Scale, Modified clinical test of sensory interaction for balance and one functional performance measure – Ten meter walk test as compared to their pre–intervention scores. On comparison between the two groups, there was statistically significant difference between post intervention scores of Berg Balance Scale, Modified clinical test of sensory interaction for balance and Ten metre walk test.

This study thus concludes that both Task oriented balance training programme with altered sensory input and Task oriented balance training without altered sensory input were effective in improving balance and functional performance in older adults but it becomes more effective when multisensory training is incorporated to task oriented balance training program.