Effects of Balance Training on Fall Risk and Mobility in the Elderly

Overview

Pakistan is a country devoid of health-care facilities and training programs on fall prevention. There is lack of research, awareness and implication of geriatric rehabilitation on elderly population addressing balance and fall risk assessment however very few cross-sectional studies of poor quality evidence are available on this issue. To best of investigators' knowledge, no interventional studies have been conducted in our country so far on this topic. . We aim to use a integrated method of balance training that uses patients judgment, visual feedback, proprioception and balance training with the help of new technology/devices to improve balance. And compare it to conventional treatment. We also aim to assess risk factors of fall in geriatric population, decreasing risks of falls and increasing awareness regarding geriatric rehabilitation and balance training.

Balance is use of multiple systems of the body including auditory, motor, visual, vestibular and nervous to keep body staying inside limits of stability. It includes maintaining posture under different conditions in standing or sitting, ability to facilitate movement and to recover and stay in limits of stability after external (Trip, push, slip) and internal (body movements) protuberance. Impaired balancing system of body results in increased risk of fall which is major cause of mortality and morbidity in geriatric population. A report of 2014 stated that Pakistan has 12.13 million population of Age 60 years and above which is expected to rise to 17.53 Million by year 2025. According to a study 30-50 % of population of age 65 years and above have some problems with balance. Another study states that 75 % of people aging 70 years and above have balance impairments which leads to fall. Additionally number of conditions including poly pharmacy, female gender, visual problems, environmental problems and cognitive issue contribute to in fall risk and balance problems. One of the major goal of Balance re-education is to decrease fall risk. Literature has suggested that one of the most effective methods of reducing falls in geriatric population is to prophylactically intervene on multiple risks factors of fall. This includes outpatient balance training and fall risk assessment. Force plate systems and mirrors which are the part of visual biofeedback are often used for treatment of balance disorders but are found to have no difference in educating compared to conventional management. In current era technology has advances to a great extend and new systems that quantifies balance and provide a reliable and valid data regarding balance which then can be used in formation of balance training plan. These systems can also be used for treatment purposes and also have various visual feedback systems for more educational benefits. One of these systems is Biodex balance system which is used for balance and postural reduction, increase proprioception, somatosensory and neuromuscular control. It incorporates patient data saving and printing system for record management and uses an integrated system which involves patient in activities of re-education with relation to visual feedback to accommodate body accordingly. As mentioned earlier Falls result in high morbidity and mortality among geriatric population which leads to increased costs and need for rehabilitation services. Falls are brought about by detrimental effects of aging on postural control as a result of deterioration in neuromuscular and sensory mechanisms, physical inactivity, pre-existing pathology and use of medications. However, balance training and exercise interventions tend to decrease risk of falling and eventually fall itself. Moreover, conventional balance training programs have decreased adherence; hence, sensor-based training programs have been advocated. These programs have quiet good advantages including visual feedback with interactive environment and targeted interventions. This exercise system incorporates human-computer interface providing a three-dimensional and real-time feedback.