Results and Conclusions Although most available studies did not systematic ally evaluate feasibility aspects , reports of high participation rates , low drop-out rates , absence of adverse events and positive training experiences suggest that biofeedback methods can be applied in older adults .
An indication for effectiveness of visual feedback-based training of balance in ( frail ) older adults was identified for postural sway , weight-shifting and reaction time in st and ing , and for the Berg Balance Scale .
Indications for added effectiveness of applying biofeedback during training of balance , gait , or sit-to-st and transfers in older patients post-stroke were identified for training-specific aspects .
The same applies for auditory feedback-based training of gait in older patients with lower-limb surgery .
Implication sFurther appropriate studies are needed in different population s of older adults to be able to make definitive statements regarding the ( long-term ) added effectiveness , particularly on measures of functioning
Context An effective application of biofeedback for interventions in older adults with balance and mobility disorders may be compromised due to co-morbidity .
Objective To evaluate the feasibility and the effectiveness of biofeedback-based training of balance and /or mobility in older adults .
Direction-Induced Effects of Visually Guided Weight-Shifting Training on Standing Balance in the Elderly
Background : Controversial findings exist in the literature with respect to the efficacy of visually guided weight-shifting ( WS ) training as a means of improving balance in healthy older adults . Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of two direction-specific , visually guided WS training protocol s on st and ing balance of healthy elderly women . Methods : Forty-eight community-dwelling elderly women , all free of any neurological or musculoskeletal impairment , were r and omly assigned into : a group that practice d WS in the anterior/posterior direction ( A/P group , n = 19 ) , a group that practice d WS in the medio/lateral direction ( M/L group , n = 15 ) and a control group ( n = 14 ) . Participants performed 12 training sessions of visually guided WS ( 3 sessions a week for 25 minutes per session ) . Static balance was measured before and after training in normal ( bipedal ) quiet stance ( NQS ) and sharpened-Romberg stance ( SRS ) by recording center of pressure ( CoP ) variations and angular segment kinematics . Results : In NQS , neither of the two training protocol s had a significant impact on postural sway measures , although a significant decrease in interlimb asymmetry of CoP displacement was noted for the A/P group . In SRS , A/P training induced a significant reduction of CoP displacement , lower limb pitch and upper trunk roll rotation . Conclusion : The results of the study stress the importance of using direction-specific WS tasks in balance training , particularly in the A/P direction , in order to improve control of static balance in elderly women
Results and Conclusions Although most available studies did not systematic ally evaluate feasibility aspects , reports of high participation rates , low drop-out rates , absence of adverse events and positive training experiences suggest that biofeedback methods can be applied in older adults .
An indication for effectiveness of visual feedback-based training of balance in ( frail ) older adults was identified for postural sway , weight-shifting and reaction time in st and ing , and for the Berg Balance Scale .
Indications for added effectiveness of applying biofeedback during training of balance , gait , or sit-to-st and transfers in older patients post-stroke were identified for training-specific aspects .
The same applies for auditory feedback-based training of gait in older patients with lower-limb surgery .
Implication sFurther appropriate studies are needed in different population s of older adults to be able to make definitive statements regarding the ( long-term ) added effectiveness , particularly on measures of functioning
Context An effective application of biofeedback for interventions in older adults with balance and mobility disorders may be compromised due to co-morbidity .
Objective To evaluate the feasibility and the effectiveness of biofeedback-based training of balance and /or mobility in older adults .