Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1 Department of Exercise Physiology and Corrective Exercise, Faculty of Sport Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
2 Department of Exercise physiology and corrective exercises,Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
3 Department of Sports Injury and Corrective Exercises, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Background: One of the common problems of the elderly as a result of certain diseases and / or the aging process, is reduced balance and posture control. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of eight weeks of sensorimotor training on balance and proprioception of elderly women.
Methods: This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial, and its statistical population included elderly women aged 60-75 years going to gyms in Urmia. Thirty elderly women were randomly selected based on inclusion criteria and divided into two experimental (age: 70.06±2.64 years, height: 156.13±6.14 cm, weight: 73.11± 7.81 kg) and control (age: 67.93±2.12 years, height: 154.15±7.22 cm, weight: 70.83±5.22 kg) groups purposively. The experimental group performed sensorimotor training for 8 weeks and three sessions per week, and the control group had no training. Before and after training, knee proprioception was measured at flexion angle of 40-60 degrees in the standing position using photography and static and dynamic balance using Sharpened Romberg Test and Time of Up and Go Test, respectively. ANCOVA was used for data analysis at a significance level of P≤0.05.
Results: The results showed a significant reduction in the absolute error of angle reconstruction (P=0.001), and a significant improvement in static balance with eyes open and closed (P=0.001) and dynamic balance (P=0.001), in the experimental group compared to the control group after training intervention.
Conclusion: Improvement proprioception through sensorimotor training and improving sensorimotor input can increase balance in the elderly. Sensorimotor training in the closed chain movement strengthens the proprioceptive feedback of the muscles of the lower limbs and in this way improve the balance and proprioception of the elderly.
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