Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercise; Faculty of Sport Science; University of Isfahan, Isfahan; Iran
2 Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercise, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Aging is associated with many problems, including balance disorder, so the aim of present study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of multicomponent exercise program (MEP) and balance exercise circuit (BEC) on balance, proprioception and fear of falling in elderly women.
Methodology: The participants were 30 elderly women who were selected from health centers and were randomly divided into two groups of BEC and MEP. Static balance (Foot Scan Device and Functional Reach Test), dynamic balance(Y Balance Test and Timed Up and Go), proprioception (Biodex device) and fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) Questionnaire) were measured before and after eight weeks of BEC and MEP in two groups. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA method (P<0/05).
Results: Significant differences were observed between for the index of static balance, dynamic balance, proprioception at 30 and 60 degree angles and the fear of falling score in elderly women in both group of BEC and MEP (P<0/05), but no significant differences were observed between the two groups in all factors except functional reach test and proprioception tests (P>0/05).
Conclusion: It can be concluded that both methods of exercise have been effective and multicomponent exercise program caused almost more improvement in the performance of elderly women than balance exercise circuit, therefore it is recommended to include MEP in the exercise program of the elderly.
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