Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
J Altern Complement Med. 2010 Jan;16(1):97-105. doi: 10.1089/acm.2008.0612.
Falls and fall-related injuries are a major public health concern, a financial challenge for health care providers, and critical issues for older adults. Poor balance and limited mobility are major risk factors for falls.
The purpose of this study was to examine effects of Feldenkrais exercises in improving balance, mobility, and balance confidence in older adults.
Participants (N = 47, mean age 75.6) were randomly assigned to a Feldenkrais group (FG, n = 25) or to a control group (CG, n = 22). The FG group attended a 5-week Feldenkrais program, 60 minutes three times per week, while the CG group was a waitlist control. The outcome measures were balance (tandem stance), mobility (Timed Up and Go), gait characteristics (GAITRite Walkway System), balance confidence (Balance Confidence Scale; ABC), and fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale). Pre- and post-tests were conducted.
After completion of the program, balance (p = 0.030) and mobility (p = 0.042) increased while fear of falling (p = 0.042) decreased significantly for the FG group. No other significant changes were observed. However, participants of the FG group showed improvements in balance confidence (p = 0.054) and mobility while performing concurrently a cognitive task (p = 0.067).
These results indicate that Feldenkrais exercises are an effective way to improve balance and mobility, and thus offer an alternative method to help offset age-related declines in mobility and reduce the risk of falling among community-dwelling older adults. A long-term follow-up study of balance and mobility is warranted. Further research is needed to identify whether Feldenkrais exercises may impact cognitive processes.
跌倒和与跌倒相关的伤害是一个主要的公共卫生关注点，也是医疗保健提供者面临的财务挑战，对老年人来说也是一个关键问题。平衡能力差和行动受限是跌倒的主要危险因素。
本研究旨在探讨费登奎斯练习对改善老年人平衡、移动能力和平衡信心的影响。
参与者（N=47，平均年龄 75.6 岁）被随机分配到费登奎斯组（FG，n=25）或对照组（CG，n=22）。FG 组参加了为期 5 周的费登奎斯课程，每周 3 次，每次 60 分钟，而 CG 组为候补对照组。结果测量包括平衡（并足站立）、移动能力（计时起立行走测试）、步态特征（GAITRite 步道系统）、平衡信心（平衡信心量表；ABC）和跌倒恐惧（跌倒效能量表）。进行了预测试和后测试。
在完成课程后，FG 组的平衡（p=0.030）和移动能力（p=0.042）显著提高，而跌倒恐惧（p=0.042）显著降低。没有观察到其他显著变化。然而，FG 组的参与者在同时执行认知任务时，平衡信心（p=0.054）和移动能力都有所提高（p=0.067）。
这些结果表明，费登奎斯练习是改善平衡和移动能力的有效方法，因此提供了一种替代方法，可以帮助抵消与年龄相关的移动能力下降，并降低社区居住的老年人跌倒的风险。需要进行长期的平衡和移动能力随访研究。需要进一步研究以确定费登奎斯练习是否会影响认知过程。
