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Abstract
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BACKGROUND:
Ageing is a complex process involving many factors that interact with one another, including primary aging processes, "secondary ageing" effects (resulting from chronic disease and lifestyle behaviours), and genetic factors. Exercise provides physical, mental and social benefits and helps keep older adults mobile and independent. By age 75, one in two women and one in three men get no physical activity at all. Diminished ability to maintain balance may be associated with an increased risk of falling. In older adults, falls commonly lead to injury, loss of independence, associated illness and early death. Exercise interventions such as aerobic exercise have been shown to reduce falls and are most effective for improving balance in older people.
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the balance among elderly persons. To find out the effectiveness of low intensity aerobic exercise on the balance. To compare the balance of elderly persons in experimental and control group. To find out the association between balance and selected variables. Materials and Method
The population of this study was elderly persons aged between 60-70 years from selected old age homes in Mangalore. Purposive sampling method was used to collect the 40 samples. The data was collected using demographic proforma and Berg's Balance Scale. An informed consent was taken from the elderly persons. The samples for control group and experimental group were selected from different old age homes. The Berg's balance scale was administered to both the groups to assess the balance level. After the pre-test the experimental group underwent low intensity aerobic exercise programme, 5 times a week for 30 minutes per day for a period of 4 weeks. After the 4th week the post test was administered to both the experimental and the control group to identify the effectiveness of the low intensity aerobic exercise.
RESULTS
The collected data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Majority- 50% subjects were within the age group of 60-63 yrs. Both males and females constitute to 50%. 52.5% of the subjects were single. 33(82.5%) of the subjects were Christians. None of the subjects had any history of heart disease, breathing and balance related problems. Majority of elderly persons (76.9%) had medium fall risk. After the low intensity aerobic exercise 't' calculated value (16.678) was greater than t table value (2.09) at 0.05 level of significance. Hence it was interpreted that low intensity aerobic exercise is an effective strategy for elderly persons to improve the balance. The difference in the level of balance was assessed in control and experimental group. The calculated t value of balance scores was 7.114, which was more than the table value(38) = 2.021 at 0.05 level of significance. Hence it was concluded that there is a significant difference between balance of elderly in experimental and control group. Study findings revealed that there is an association between balance and the variable gender.
CONCLUSION
The findings of the study revealed that majority of elderly persons in the old age homes had medium fall risk. Low intensity aerobic exercise is an effective method to improve balance among elderly persons.
Language: en |