THE EFFICIENCY OF THE THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE ON BALANCE, MOBILITY AND FEAR FELLING OF FAILLING ON ELDERLY PEOPLE

CHRONIC DISEASE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

THE EFFICIENCY OF THE THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE ON BALANCE, MOBILITY AND FEAR FELLING OF FAILLING ON ELDERLY PEOPLE

Iakovidis Paris, Aftosmidis Dimitrios, Porfiriadou Anthi
T.E.I. Thessaloniki, Department of Physiotherapy, Greece

The instability, the reduced mobility and the fear- feeling of falling are deemed to be the most important factors that are seriously connected with the increased frequency of peoples’ falls, both while standing and moving. This survey intends to study the results of a special- designed protocol of therapeutic exercises of the elderly, as it arises out of the review of the relevant bibliography and articles. The protocol was designed according to the exercises' principals and the special personal needs of the elderly and includes exercises that combines resistance exercises, flexibility, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, balancing and other diverse mobility and functional activities which have as target to rehabilitate and prevent these peoples' falls. The consistence of the surveys’ sample was 40 65-85- year- old people with an antecedent of falling in the past year. These falls were registered in the outpatients department of the General Hospital in Kilkis. As to collect and evaluate the data of the mobility- therapy program we used the functional- balance- scale Berg, the mobility- test Tinetti and the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale. The results arising out of this survey showed a statistically improvement of the persons’ balance and mobility, but no differentiation in the fear- feeling of falling.
Conclusively, the specific protocol of therapeutic exercises can be used as to improve the balance and the mobility of the elderly. As far as it concerns the reduction of the fear of falling, it may be necessary to support these people on a psychological base.
KEY WORDS: exercise, the elderly, balance, mobility, fear of falling.