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:: Volume 29, Issue 5 (Bimothly 2025) ::
Feyz Med Sci J 2025, 29(5): 490-505 Back to browse issues page
The effect of functional balance training on the improvement of motor indices and reduction of fear of falling in elderly residents of care facilities
Parisa Sedaghati * , Fatemeh Zahra Talebi kenari
Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercise, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran , sedaghati@guilan.ac.ir
Abstract:   (348 Views)
Background and Aim: The aging process is often accompanied by a decline in motor function and an increased fear of falling, which directly affect the loss of independence and quality of life in the elderly. This study evaluated the effect of functional balance training on motor indices and fear of falling among elderly residents of care facilities.
Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 30 elderly women residing in care facilities in Gilan Province were selected via purposive sampling and randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group participated in a functional balance-training program for eight weeks, while the control group received no intervention. Assessments were conducted using standardized tests, including the Timed Up and Go (TUG), the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and the Five-Times Sit-to-Stand Test (5TSTS).
Results: The implementation of functional balance exercises led to a significant reduction in fear of falling (p=.002, η²=0.327), a significant improvement in TUG time (p=.001, η²=0.512), fast gait speed in the 10MWT (P=.001, η²=0.402), performance in the 30-second chair stand test, the 5TSTS (p=.016, η²=0.226), and an enhanced total score on the SPPB (p=.002, η²=0.336) in the experimental group compared to the controls. None of the variables showed significant changes in the control group (P > 0.01).
Conclusion: Functional balance training can be employed as an effective strategy to improve motor performance, increase lower limb strength, and reduce the fear of falling in elderly care facility residents. Incorporating these exercises into routine care programs can help maintain functional independence and improve the quality of life for the elderly.
Keywords: Functional training, Balance, Aged, Fear of falling, Motor function
Full-Text [PDF 844 kb]   (12 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Research | Subject: General
Received: 2025/08/7 | Revised: 2025/11/4 | Accepted: 2025/09/29 | Published: 2025/11/3
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Sedaghati P, Talebi kenari F Z. The effect of functional balance training on the improvement of motor indices and reduction of fear of falling in elderly residents of care facilities. Feyz Med Sci J 2025; 29 (5) :490-505
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