Effect of a functional training program on community-dwelling elderly women's postural balance

Abstract

Functional training programs may help reduce elderly disabilities, falls, and emotional and social problems. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of an eight-week functional exercise program on aged women's instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and one-foot stance balance. Irrespective of race and/or social condition, 7 community-dwelling elderly women (aged 71±8.1) were selected, being excluded those with cognitive impairment, acute or neurological diseases, spine or joint pain, labyrinth inflammatory disease, visual impairment, fractures in the previous year, and use of gait aid. All subjects were assessed by the Lawton IADL scale and the one-foot stance balance test, before and after the program. Exercises were performed three times a week and consisted of gait exercises in plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, alternation of sustained one-foot stance, sideways gait, gait with increased hip flexion, and tandem gait. Results show a functional improvement in IADL (p=0.042) as measured by the Lawton scale, and a trend towards better static one-foot stance balance, though not significant (p>;0.105). The proposed program of functional exercises may thus be said to bring about improvement in older women's functional performance and a trend towards improvement on static balance, suggesting its relevance to increase elderly women's autonomy.