CHRONIC
DISEASE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
THE
EFFICIENCY OF THE THERAPEUTIC
EXERCISE ON BALANCE, MOBILITY AND FEAR FELLING OF FAILLING ON ELDERLY
PEOPLE Iakovidis Paris,
Aftosmidis Dimitrios, Porfiriadou Anthi
T.E.I. Thessaloniki,
Department of Physiotherapy, Greece
The instability, the reduced
mobility and the fear- feeling of falling are deemed to be the most
important factors that are seriously connected with the increased
frequency of peoples’ falls, both while standing and moving.
This survey intends to study the results of a special- designed
protocol of therapeutic exercises of the elderly, as it arises out of
the review of the relevant bibliography and articles. The protocol was
designed according to the exercises' principals and the special
personal needs of the elderly and includes exercises that combines
resistance exercises, flexibility, proprioceptive neuromuscular
facilitation, balancing and other diverse mobility and functional
activities which have as target to rehabilitate and prevent these
peoples' falls. The consistence of the surveys’ sample was 40
65-85- year- old people with an antecedent of falling in the past year.
These falls were registered in the outpatients department of the
General Hospital in Kilkis. As to collect and evaluate the data of the
mobility- therapy program we used the functional- balance- scale Berg,
the mobility- test Tinetti and the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale. The
results arising out of this survey showed a statistically improvement
of the persons’ balance and mobility, but no differentiation
in the fear- feeling of falling.
Conclusively, the specific
protocol of therapeutic exercises can be used as to improve the balance
and the mobility of the elderly. As far as it concerns the reduction of
the fear of falling, it may be necessary to support these people on a
psychological base.
KEY WORDS: exercise, the
elderly, balance,
mobility, fear of falling.
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