Journal of Research in Rehabilitation Sciences

The Effect of Physical Exercise on Controlling Balance among the Visually Impaired Elderly using Auditory-Vibratory Alarming Feedback Device.

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Behavior and Cognitive Sciences, School of Sport and Health Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University , Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Behavior and Cognitive Sciences, School of Sport and Health Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

3 Physiotherapist, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

10.22122/jrrs.v14i5.3349

Abstract

Introduction: The quality of stability, which refers to balance, is defined as the power to maintain center of mass in relation to base of support. Considering the fact that elderly who are visually impaired encounter problems related to keep balance and its effect on their social activities, the aim of the current research was to study the effect of physical exercise on using audio-vibratory alarming feedback device on controlling balance among the visually impaired elderly.Materials and Methods: Thirty visually impaired elderly, whose impaired was confirmed using Snellen chart and opticians devices, were randomly chosen and divided into two groups of physical exercise and physical exercise with using biological feedback device. The exercise was of two types of tasks, standing alone or walking along with kinetic and thinking tasks. The elderly chosen for this test participated in posttest and pretest balance assessment using stabilometer. The groups exercised for 12 weeks and twice a week. To analyze the data, we used independent t and repeated measures ANOVA tests.Results: Physical exercise with and without using biological feedback device had significant effect on balance in visually impaired elderly (P = 0.001). Based on the independent t test, there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the effect on balance at posttest test; and the group of exercise with using device showed a better performance related (P = 0.035).Conclusion: Doing exercises using alarming biological feedback device can improve balance criteria. In this regard, multi-sensory manipulations based on substitution and adapting approaches can lead to even better results, and increase the effectiveness.

Keywords

  1. Shumway-Cook A, Woollacott MH. Motor control: Translating research into clinical practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2016.
  2. Horak FB. Postural orientation and equilibrium: What do we need to know about neural control of balance to prevent falls? Age Ageing 2006; 35(Suppl 2): ii7-ii11.
  3. Arriaga MsA. Vestibular function: Evaluation and treatment. Otol Neurotol 2010; 31(7): 1013.
  4. Herdman S, Clendaniel RA. Vestibular rehabilitation. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company; 2014.
  5. Schmidt RA, Wulf G. Continuous concurrent feedback degrades skill learning: implications for training and simulation. Hum Factors 1997; 39(4): 509-25.
  6. Faraldo-Garcia A, Santos-Perez S, Crujeiras-Casais R, Labella-Caballero T, Soto-Varela A. Influence of age and gender in the sensory analysis of balance control. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2012; 269(2): 673-7.
  7. Sattin RW. Falls among older persons: A public health perspective. Annu Rev Public Health 1992; 13: 489-508.
  8. US Bureau of the Census. 2012-Census Data [Online]. [cited 2012]; Available from: URL:http://www.census.gov/compendia /statab/cats/population.html
  9. Lord SR. Visual risk factors for falls in older people. Age Ageing 2006; 35(Suppl 2): ii42-ii45.
  10. Entekhab. Increase in aging population [Online]. [cited 2018 Oct 7]; Available from: URL: https://www.entekhab.ir /fa/news/432057/ [In Persian].
  11. State Welfare Organization of Iran. Aging population [Online]. [cited 2001 Oct 6]; Available from: URL: www.behzisti.ir [In Persian].
  12. Bergin PS, Bronstein AM, Murray NM, Sancovic S, Zeppenfeld DK. Body sway and vibration perception thresholds in normal aging and in patients with polyneuropathy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1995; 58(3): 335-40.
  13. Patel M, Magnusson M, Kristinsdottir E, Fransson PA. The contribution of mechanoreceptive sensation on stability and adaptation in the young and elderly. Eur J Appl Physiol 2009; 105(2): 167-73.
  14. Latham N, Anderson C, Bennett D, Stretton C. Progressive resistance strength training for physical disability in older people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2003; (2): CD002759.
  15. Rugelj D. The effect of functional balance training in frail nursing home residents. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2010; 50(2): 192-7.
  16. Buchner DM. Preserving mobility in older adults. West J Med 1997; 167(4): 258-64.
  17. Hu MH, Woollacott MH. Multisensory training of standing balance in older adults: I. Postural stability and one-leg stance balance. J Gerontol 1994; 49(2): M52-M61.
  18. Redfern MS, Talkowski ME, Jennings JR, Furman JM. Cognitive influences in postural control of patients with unilateral vestibular loss. Gait Posture 2004; 19(2): 105-14.
  19. Ayres AJ, Robbins J, McAtee S, Pediatric TN. Sensory integration and the child: understanding hidden sensory challenges. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services; 2005.
  20. Artal P, Ferro M, Miranda I, Navarro R. Effects of aging in retinal image quality. J Opt Soc Am A 1993; 10(7): 1656-62.
  21. Rosenhall U. Degenerative patterns in the aging human vestibular neuro-epithelia. Acta Otolaryngol 1973; 76(2): 208-20.
  22. Anderson PG, Nienhuis B, Mulder T, Hulstijn W. Are older adults more dependent on visual information in regulating self-motion than younger adults? J Mot Behav 1998; 30(2): 104-13.
  23. Gallahue DL. Understanding motor development: infants, children, adolescents. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education; 1989.
  24. Andersson G, Hagman J, Talianzadeh R, Svedberg A, Larsen HC. Dual-task study of cognitive and postural interference in patients with vestibular disorders. Otol Neurotol 2003; 24(2): 289-93.
  25. Gauchard GC, Gangloff P, Jeandel C, Perrin PP. Influence of regular proprioceptive and bioenergetic physical activities on balance control in elderly women. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2003; 58(9): M846-M850.
  26. Yardley L, Gardner M, Bronstein A, Davies R, Buckwell D, Luxon L. Interference between postural control and mental task performance in patients with vestibular disorder and healthy controls. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2001; 71(1): 48-52.
  27. Verhoeff LL, Horlings CG, Janssen LJ, Bridenbaugh SA, Allum JH. Effects of biofeedback on trunk sway during dual tasking in the healthy young and elderly. Gait Posture 2009; 30(1): 76-81.
  28. Cochran WG. Sampling Techniques. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons; 1977.
  29. Winter DA, Patla AE, Frank JS. Assessment of balance control in humans. Med Prog Technol 1990; 16(1-2): 31-51.
  30. Shah J, Rao K, Malawade M, Khatri S. Effect of Motor Control Program in Improving Gross Motor Function and Postural Control in Children with Sensorineural Hearing Loss-A Pilot Study. Pediat Therapeut 2013; 3(1): 141.
  31. Cordo P, Inglis JT, Verschueren S, Collins JJ, Merfeld DM, Rosenblum S, et al. Noise in human muscle spindles. Nature 1996; 383(6603): 769-70.
  32. Pinnington H, Dawson B, Mills P, Braham R, Knox S. A pilot study into the prospective benefits of a walking programme conducted on soft dry sand compared with a firm surface. Proceedings of the 2005 Australian Conference of Science and Medicine; 2005 Oct 13-16; Melbourne, Australia.
  33. Farsi A, Ashayeri H, Mohammadzadeh S. The effect of balance training on hip, knee and ankle joints kinematic compatibility of older women during walking. J Rehab Med 2016; 5(1):135-44. [In Persian].
  34. Farsi A, Abdoli B, Baraz P. Effect of balance, strength, and combined training on the balance of the elderly women. Salmand: Iranian J Ageing. 2015; 10 (3): 54-61. [In Persian].
  35. Zhou J, Lipsitz L, Habtemariam D, Manor B. Sub-sensory vibratory noise augments the physiologic complexity of postural control in older adults. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2016; 13(1): 44.
Journal of Research in Rehabilitation Sciences
Volume 14, Issue 5 - Serial Number 5
November 2018
Pages 266-273
  • Receive Date: 23 July 2019
  • Revise Date: 01 June 2022
  • Accept Date: 22 May 2022