EFFECTS OF CHOREOTHERAPY AND GENERAL REHABILITATION GYMNASTICS ON BALANCING SKILLS IN OLDER WOMEN

Background: Balance disorders and risk of falling represent main problems of older persons. Choreotherapy and general rehabilitation gymnastics may improve balancing skills and decrease the risk of falling in older subjects.... [ view full abstract ]

Background: Balance disorders and risk of falling represent main problems of older persons. Choreotherapy and general rehabilitation gymnastics may improve balancing skills and decrease the risk of falling in older subjects. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of choreotherapy and general rehabilitation gymnastics on the balancing skills and risk of falling in older women.
Methods: The study included 24 healthy women aged 61-74 years who participated in choreotherapy, as well as 24 healthy women between 61 and 82 years of age who practiced general rehabilitation gymnastics. Both training programs lasted for three months, with three 45-min weekly sessions. Prior to and after completing the programs, all women were subjected to three testes on an balance platform: Postural Stability Test, Limits of Stability Test and Fall Risk Test.
Results: The average score of the Limits of Stability Test conducted prior to choreotherapy program was significantly higher (17.5%) as compared to that documented at the baseline. In turn, participation in the general rehabilitation gymnastics program resulted in a statistically significant increase in the results of the Fall Risk Test with open eyes (by 14.6%) and closed eyes (by 9.1%) on a soft surface.
Conclusions: Regular physical activity, in form of both choreotherapy and general rehabilitation exercise, seems to be a promising method for improving balancing skills and reducing the risk of falling in older women.
Application to Practice: Choreotherapy and general rehabilitation gymnastics should be recommended for older adults, in particular those who lead a sedentary lifestyle.