The Effect of Balance Exercise Using Exercise Ball on Balance Function of Elderly

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vestibular rehabilitation is an important therapy to treat dizziness in elderly. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of balance and resistance exercises in improving balance function in elderly. METHODS:Sixty elderlies between the age of 65 to 80 years old were divided into two groups; the control group and exercise group. The exercise group carried out balance and resistance exercises using an exercise ball for 60 minutes each time, 3 times/week for 16 weeks. The elderlies in both groups went through sensory organization test (SOT) and motor control test (MCT) of Equi test pre-series of exercise and post-series of exercise. RESULTS: Conditions 4 and 6 of SOT in control group and conditions 3, 4, 5, and 6 of exercise group showed significantly higher scores in post-exercise compared to those of pre-exercise status. In condition 4, the score was significantly higher in exercise group compared to that of control group. In sensory analysis, the visual and vestibule analyses ratio of post-exercise were significantly higher compared to those of pre-exercise status. The visual analysis ratio of exercise group was significantly higher compared to that of control group. In MCT, the latency of medium forward of exercise group was significantly decreased compared to that of control group in post-exercise status. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the balance and resistance exercises using an exercise ball was effective in improving various scores and ratio of SOT and sensory analyses in the elderly. This kind of exercises appears to improve balance function in the elderly. The balance and resistance exercises using exercise ball may be effective exercises to improve balance function of chronic dizziness including presbyastasis.