Department of Physical Therapy, Division of Health Science, Hanseo University, Seosan 31962, Korea.
Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Medical Science, Daejeon University, Daejeon 34520, Korea.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 14;18(2):650. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18020650.
The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effects of motor imagery training on balance and gait abilities in older adults and to investigate the possible application of the training as an effective intervention against fall prevention. Subjects (n = 34) aged 65 years and over who had experienced falls were randomly allocated to three groups: (1) motor imagery training group (MITG, n = 11), (2) task-oriented training group (TOTG, n = 11), and (3) control group (CG, n = 12). Each group performed an exercise three times a week for 6 weeks. The dependent variables included Path Length of center of pressure (COP)-based static balance, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) score, which assesses a person's mobility based on changes in both static and dynamic balance, Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) score, which evaluates changes in fear of falls, and gait parameters (velocity, cadence, step length, stride length, and H-H base support) to evaluate gait. After the intervention, Path Length, BBS, TUG, velocity, cadence, step length, and stride length showed significant increases in MITG and TOTG compared to CG ( < 0.05). Post hoc test results showed a significantly greater increase in BBS, TUG, and FES in MITG compared with TOTG and CG ( < 0.05). Our results suggest that motor imagery training combined with functional training has positive effects on balance, gait, and fall efficacy for fall prevention in the elderly.
本研究旨在展示运动意象训练对老年人平衡和步态能力的影响，并探讨该训练作为预防跌倒的有效干预措施的可能应用。研究对象为年龄在 65 岁及以上且有跌倒经历的老年人，他们被随机分配到三个组：（1）运动意象训练组（MITG，n = 11）、（2）任务导向训练组（TOTG，n = 11）和（3）对照组（CG，n = 12）。每个组每周进行三次运动，共进行 6 周。依赖变量包括基于压力中心轨迹（COP）的静态平衡的路径长度、伯格平衡量表（BBS）评分、计时起立行走测试（TUG）评分（评估基于静态和动态平衡变化的人的移动能力）、跌倒效能量表（FES）评分（评估对跌倒的恐惧变化）以及步态参数（速度、步频、步长、步幅和 H-H 基底支撑），以评估步态。干预后，MITG 和 TOTG 组的路径长度、BBS、TUG、速度、步频、步长和步幅均较 CG 组显著增加（<0.05）。事后检验结果表明，MITG 组的 BBS、TUG 和 FES 均显著高于 TOTG 组和 CG 组（<0.05）。我们的结果表明，运动意象训练结合功能训练对预防老年人跌倒的平衡、步态和跌倒效能具有积极影响。
