Department of Physical Therapy, Allied Health Sciences Faculty, Burapha University, Chonburi 20131, Thailand.
Exercise and Nutrition Innovation and Sciences Research Unit, Burapha University, Chonburi 20131, Thailand.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep 4;18(17):9351. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18179351.
Intrinsic foot muscle weakness is a crucial cause of balance deficit in the elderly, which leads to a limited range of motion from the fear of falling and subsequently decreases the quality of life. Muscle strengthening via transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) is an effective intervention; however, its effects on elderly people have rarely been reported. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of TENS on navicular height, balance, and fear of falling.
In this study, forty-eight participants aged 65-75 years were included and were randomly divided into two groups: the TENS and control groups. Before and after 4 weeks of training, navicular height, balance, and fear of falling were measured.
After 4 weeks of training, navicular height significantly increased in both groups ( < 0.05); however, the increase was higher in the TENS group ( = 0.035). The TENS group had a better improvement in balance in all four directions-front, back, left, and right ( < 0.05). However, postural balance improvements in the control group were observed in three directions only-front, back, and left ( < 0.05)-without any significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore, the TENS group decreased the scale of fear of falling after 4 weeks of training ( = 0.039).
In summary, the results of this study can be used as part of the muscle strengthening via ES for decreasing the risk of falls or fear of falling in the elderly.
内在足部肌肉无力是老年人平衡缺陷的一个关键原因，这导致了由于害怕跌倒而导致的运动范围受限，进而降低了生活质量。经皮电刺激（TENS）的肌肉强化是一种有效的干预措施；然而，其对老年人的影响很少有报道。本研究旨在探讨 TENS 对舟骨高度、平衡和跌倒恐惧的影响。
本研究纳入了 48 名年龄在 65-75 岁的参与者，并将其随机分为 TENS 组和对照组。在 4 周的训练前后，测量了舟骨高度、平衡和跌倒恐惧。
经过 4 周的训练，两组的舟骨高度均显著增加（<0.05）；然而，TENS 组的增加更高（=0.035）。TENS 组在所有四个方向（前、后、左、右）的平衡都有更好的改善（<0.05）。然而，对照组只有在三个方向（前、后、左）观察到姿势平衡的改善（<0.05），且两组之间没有显著差异。此外，TENS 组在 4 周的训练后降低了跌倒恐惧的评分（=0.039）。
综上所述，本研究的结果可作为通过 ES 进行肌肉强化以降低老年人跌倒或跌倒恐惧风险的一部分。
