Kajbafvala Mehrnaz, Eshlaghi Mina Ansari, ShahAli Shabnam, Pourkazem Fateme, Hejazi Anahita
Iranian Center of Excellence in Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
BMC Geriatr. 2025 Mar 27;25(1):200. doi: 10.1186/s12877-025-05822-y.
With aging, changes occur in various body systems, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, neuromusculoskeletal, and vestibular, leading to a decreased quality of life (QOL) and an increased fear of falling (FOF). Exercise and physical activity reduce the progression of aging complications. Therefore, we examined the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques compared to aerobic exercise on balance, fear of falling, and quality of life in older adults living in nursing homes.
Fifty-two older adults aged over 60 (31 males, 21 females) living in nursing homes were included. After initial evaluation, individuals were randomly assigned to two treatment groups (PNF techniques and aerobic exercise). Both treatment groups received 12 treatment sessions over 4 weeks. Balance, fear of falling, and quality of life were assessed at baseline and after a 4-week intervention. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and paired samples t-test were utilized to between and within-group changes of variables.
The results showed no significant differences in balance, fear of falling, and quality of life between groups after the intervention (P > 0.05). In the within-group comparison, only the PNF techniques group showed significant improvement in the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) after the intervention (P < 0.05).
The findings suggest that PNF techniques compared with aerobic exercise could not contribute to improved balance, fear of falling, and quality of life. Therefore, more clinical trial studies with a control group are needed to determine the exact effects of these techniques.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER (TRN) AND DATE OF REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at the ( https://www.irct.ir ), (IRCT20210505051181N4) on 9/2/2023.
随着年龄增长，身体各系统会发生变化，如心血管系统、呼吸系统、神经肌肉骨骼系统和前庭系统，这会导致生活质量（QOL）下降以及跌倒恐惧（FOF）增加。运动和体育活动可减少衰老并发症的进展。因此，我们研究了与有氧运动相比，本体感觉神经肌肉促进技术对养老院老年人平衡能力、跌倒恐惧和生活质量的影响。
纳入52名居住在养老院的60岁以上老年人（31名男性，21名女性）。在初始评估后，将个体随机分为两个治疗组（本体感觉神经肌肉促进技术组和有氧运动组）。两个治疗组均在4周内接受12次治疗。在基线和4周干预后评估平衡能力、跌倒恐惧和生活质量。采用协方差分析（ANCOVA）和配对样本t检验来分析组间和组内变量的变化。
结果显示，干预后两组在平衡能力、跌倒恐惧和生活质量方面无显著差异（P>0.05）。在组内比较中，只有本体感觉神经肌肉促进技术组在干预后伯格平衡量表（BBS）上有显著改善（P<0.05）。
研究结果表明，与有氧运动相比，本体感觉神经肌肉促进技术对改善平衡能力、跌倒恐惧和生活质量并无帮助。因此，需要更多有对照组的临床试验研究来确定这些技术的确切效果。
试验注册号（TRN）及注册日期：该试验于2023年2月9日在（https://www.irct.ir）注册，注册号为（IRCT20210505051181N4）。
