Department of Sports Injuries and Corrective Exercise, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.
BMC Geriatr. 2022 Jun 30;22(1):545. doi: 10.1186/s12877-022-03210-4.
This study aimed to investigate the durability of the effects of corrective exercises on the postural alignment and stability of hyperkyphotic elderly with a history of falls. Balance disturbance and recurrent falls are directly related to changes in the alignment of physical posture and function of the elderly, and effective methods with durable effects on improving the postural stability of the elderly have always been under the attention of researchers.
This study was a randomized clinical trial, and the statistical population included the elderly referred to neurology clinics. According to the research inclusion criteria (hyperkyphotic elderly with a history of falls during the last six months), 30 elderly aged 60 to 75 years old were purposefully selected and randomly divided into two groups of corrective exercises and control. The experimental group performed an exercise program based on the Alexander posture correction technique. Both groups were evaluated with forward head angle, kyphosis, the timed up and go test, postural stability, and fear of falling tests in three phases. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 21 software and the MANCOVA test and repeated-measures analysis of variance.
Data analysis showed significant improvements in the variables of forward head (p = 0.007), kyphosis(p = .001), balance(p = 0.002), postural stability(p = 0.001), and fear of falling(p = 0.001) in the experimental group. Post-test comparisons between the experimental and control groups showed significant differences in all variables except for kyphosis(p > .05), and follow-up analysis also revealed significant differences in all variables, except for the variables of forward head and kyphosis(p > .05).
Although the effects of corrective exercises in the elderly decreased regarding spinal alignment after three months, more lasting effects were seen in functional balance, postural stability, and fear of falling, suggesting this strategy as a stimulus for more mobility and a lower risk of falling in the elderly. Therefore, when using corrective exercises, it is possible to apply these exercises for a longer period of time to achieve more durable outcomes, especially regarding spinal alignment.
This research was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials ( IRCT2016081529373N1 , Date of registration: 19/04/2017).
本研究旨在探讨矫正运动对有跌倒史的中老年过度后凸患者姿势对线和稳定性的长期效果。平衡障碍和反复跌倒与老年人身体姿势和功能的变化直接相关，因此，能够持久改善老年人姿势稳定性的有效方法一直受到研究人员的关注。
这是一项随机临床试验，研究人群为神经内科就诊的老年人。根据研究纳入标准（过去 6 个月内有跌倒史的中老年过度后凸），我们有目的选择了 30 名年龄在 60 至 75 岁的老年人，并将其随机分为矫正运动组和对照组。实验组采用基于亚历山大姿势矫正技术的运动方案。两组在三个阶段均进行前伸头角度、后凸、计时起坐测试、姿势稳定性和跌倒恐惧测试。数据分析采用 SPSS 21 软件，采用 MANCOVA 检验和重复测量方差分析。
数据分析显示，实验组的前伸头角度（p=0.007）、后凸（p=0.001）、平衡（p=0.002）、姿势稳定性（p=0.001）和跌倒恐惧（p=0.001）等变量均有显著改善。实验组和对照组的后测比较显示，除后凸（p＞0.05）外，所有变量均有显著差异，随访分析显示，除前伸头和后凸（p＞0.05）外，所有变量均有显著差异。
虽然三个月后，矫正运动对老年人脊柱对线的效果降低，但在功能性平衡、姿势稳定性和跌倒恐惧方面的效果更持久，这表明该策略可刺激老年人增加活动量，降低跌倒风险。因此，在使用矫正运动时，可延长运动时间以获得更持久的效果，尤其是在脊柱对线方面。
本研究在伊朗临床试验注册中心（IRCT2016081529373N1，注册日期：2017 年 4 月 19 日）注册。
