Article

OBJECTIVE: To compare the impacts of Tai Chi, a standard balance exercise
program, and a video game balance board program on postural control and perceived
falls risk. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Research laboratory.
PARTICIPANTS: Independent seniors (N=40; 72.5+/-8.40) began the training, 27
completed. INTERVENTIONS: Tai Chi, a standard balance exercise program, and a
video game balance board program. The following were used
as measures: Timed Up & Go, One-Leg Stance, functional reach, Tinetti Performance
Oriented Mobility Assessment, force plate center of pressure (COP) and time to
boundary, dynamic posturography (DP), Falls Risk for Older People-Community
Setting, and Falls Efficacy Scale. RESULTS: No significant differences were seen
between groups for any outcome measures at baseline, nor were significant time or
group x time differences for any field test or questionnaire. No group x time
differences were seen for any COP measures; however, significant time differences
were seen for total COP, 3 of 4 anterior/posterior displacement and both
velocity, and 1 displacement and 1 velocity medial/lateral measure across time
for the entire sample. For DP, significant improvements in the overall score
(dynamic movement analysis score), and in 2 of the 3 linear and angular measures
were seen for the sample. CONCLUSIONS: The video game balance board program,
which can be performed at home, was as effective as Tai Chi and the standard
balance exercise program in improving postural control and balance dictated by
the force plate postural sway and DP measures. This finding may have implications
for exercise adherence because the at-home nature of the intervention eliminates
many obstacles to exercise training.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS