Effect of a plantar perceptual learning task on walking stability in the elderly: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the plantar perceptual learning task, using a hardness discrimination training, efficiently improves walking stability in the elderly.

DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Elder day-care center.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighty-six elderly people (73.84 SD 5.98 years) who went to an elder day-care center were randomly assigned evenly to either an intervention or a control group.

INTERVENTION

The intervention group performed a task to discriminate hardness differences while standing on sponge mats of different levels of hardness. The control group underwent the same task except that they were not instructed to discriminate hardness levels of the mats. The tasks were carried out over a four-week period for 10 days for both groups.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Outcome was assessed by determining root mean squares of trunk acceleration during walking.

RESULTS

Plantar perception was significantly improved in the intervention group after training (F = 26.24, p < 0.01). In addition, changes in root mean square values of acceleration were significantly greater after training in the intervention group (medial-lateral, 0.36 SD 0.26; vertical, 0.32 SD 0.24; anterio-posterior, 0.26 SD 0.24) than in the control group (medial-lateral, 0.14 SD 0.28, vertical, 0.16 SD 0.35, anterio-posterior, 0.12 SD 0.29) (p < 0.05). Changes in walking speed were not significantly different (p = 0.13) between the intervention (0.06 SD 0.13) and control groups (0.02 SD 0.14).

CONCLUSION

The plantar perceptual learning task might efficiently stabilize postural control during walking in the elderly.