Schwartz Movement Analysis & Rehabilitation Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2013 Jan-Feb;56(1):134-40. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2012.08.003. Epub 2012 Aug 28.
This study evaluated the effects of a water exercise training program that includes perturbation exercises (WEP) to improve the speed of voluntary stepping reaction in older adults. Speed of voluntary stepping considered as an important skill to prevent a fall when balance is lost. In a single-blinded randomized controlled trial with a crossover design thirty-six independent old adults (64-88 years old) were divided into two groups. Group A received WEP for the first 12 weeks, followed by no intervention for the second 12 weeks. Group B did not receive intervention for the first 12 weeks and received WEP for the second 12 weeks. Voluntary Step Execution Test and postural stability in upright standing (eyes open and closed conditions) were measured at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. A significant interaction effect between group and time was found for the step execution, due to improvement in initiation phase and swing phase durations in the WEP group. Also significant improvement in postural stability parameters in eyes open and closed conditions is noted. The present results indicate that the primary benefit of WEP that include perturbations to induce stepping, was a reduction in voluntary stepping times. The WEP generalized to a better control of balance in up-right standing.
本研究评估了包括扰动练习的水中运动训练计划对改善老年人自主踏步反应速度的影响。自主踏步速度被认为是预防平衡丧失时跌倒的重要技能。在一项采用交叉设计的单盲随机对照试验中，将 36 名独立的老年人（64-88 岁）分为两组。A 组在前 12 周接受水运动训练计划，随后在第 12 周不进行干预。B 组在前 12 周不接受干预，在第 12 周接受水运动训练计划。在基线、12 周和 24 周时测量自主踏步执行测试和直立站立时的姿势稳定性（睁眼和闭眼条件）。由于 WEP 组在起始阶段和摆动阶段持续时间的改善，在踏步执行方面发现组间和时间的显著交互作用。在睁眼和闭眼条件下的姿势稳定性参数也有显著改善。本研究结果表明，包含诱发踏步的扰动的 WEP 的主要益处是减少自主踏步时间。WEP 可更好地控制直立站立时的平衡。
