Effect of hydrotherapy on static and dynamic balance in older adults: Comparison of perturbed and non-perturbed programs

Abstract: Decline in physical and cognitive abilities defines aging as a complicated biological process impacted by genetic, environmental, and social elements. Essential for balance regulation, the capacity of the neural system to interpret sensory inputs from ocular, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems reduces with aging. Older persons' functional skills, mobility, and safe movement are limited by impaired balance control systems, therefore increasing their risk of falls and major injuries including fractures. This research sought to find how aquatic exercise affected the contribution of sensory systems engaged in regulation of static balance in elderly women aged 60–70 years. Before and during an 8-week aquatic training program, we assessed visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive system contributions using a sensory organization test (SOT) using the Synapsis Post urography System. Results showed significant increases in the proprioceptive and vestibular components of balance, without any alteration in the visual system. These results confirm water training as a good approach for older persons to increase balance and lower fall risk.
Key words: aging, balance, sensory systems, aquatic exercise, proprioception, vestibular system, visual system, older women
Start: Introduction
Aging reduces both physical and cognitive abilities by means of a complex process impacted by social, environmental, and hereditary elements. Nearly every system in the body, including systems of balance regulation, is impacted by this process. As one ages, the neural system's capacity to integrate visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive stimuli decreases, therefore compromising balance. This disability limits daily activity capacity and raises older persons' fall and injury risk. Aquatic exercise, with its low-impact character and capacity to increase sensory system performance—especially proprioception and the vestibular system—is one efficient intervention to improve balance and lower fall risk.
Methods: This research has a pre-post, semi-experimental design with a control group. Thirty elderly ladies between the ages of 60 and 70 lived close to a swimming pool. Their assignments were at random to one of three groups: control, aquatic exercise, and horseback riding exercise. Using the Synapsis Posturography System, the sensory organization test (SOT) evaluated how much sensory systems—visual, vestibular, proprioceptive—contribute to static balance regulation. Comprising two sessions each week, each lasting fifty minutes, the water exercise group engaged in an eight-week program. The workout's intensity ranged from 50 to 75 percent of maximal heart rate. The groups were reevaluated with the same balancing tests after the intervention.
Results: In the aquatic exercise group, significant increases in the proprioceptive and vestibular contributions to balance control after the intervention were seen; no notable changes in the visual system. The control group had no appreciable variation in balance ratings. These findings show that water training is efficient in improving the vestibular and proprioceptive systems, which are essential for preserving balance.
Discussion: Especially the proprioceptive and vestibular systems, the aging process naturally reduces the functioning of the sensory systems engaged in balance regulation. These results of this research confirm the theory that water training may help to improve balance by means of enhanced sensory systems, lower fall risk, and better performance of everyday tasks. The visual system did not show this impact, hence several kinds of treatments might be necessary. These findings coincide with other research indicating the advantages of aquatic exercise for elderly persons; but the effects can change depending on men and women and among various health disorders like osteoarthritis, Future studies might investigate how water training affects other functional outcomes in elderly persons including dynamic balance.
Eventually:
Particularly via strengthening proprioception and the vestibular system, aquatic training seems to be a good intervention for older women trying to improve balancing. For elderly persons, this strategy may assist lower fall risk and enhance their quality of living. Long-term consequences and the effects of combining water exercise with other treatments should be investigated in further research projects.
This overview presents a clear picture of the relevance of the research on water exercise and balance in older women in treating balance-related problems in the elderly by concentrating on its results, approaches, and consequences.
Please click the link below to get comprehensive research information: jrrs.mui.ac.ir/article_31247.html
Key words: aging, balance, sensory systems, aquatic exercise, proprioception, vestibular system, visual system, older women
Start: Introduction
Aging reduces both physical and cognitive abilities by means of a complex process impacted by social, environmental, and hereditary elements. Nearly every system in the body, including systems of balance regulation, is impacted by this process. As one ages, the neural system's capacity to integrate visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive stimuli decreases, therefore compromising balance. This disability limits daily activity capacity and raises older persons' fall and injury risk. Aquatic exercise, with its low-impact character and capacity to increase sensory system performance—especially proprioception and the vestibular system—is one efficient intervention to improve balance and lower fall risk.
Methods: This research has a pre-post, semi-experimental design with a control group. Thirty elderly ladies between the ages of 60 and 70 lived close to a swimming pool. Their assignments were at random to one of three groups: control, aquatic exercise, and horseback riding exercise. Using the Synapsis Posturography System, the sensory organization test (SOT) evaluated how much sensory systems—visual, vestibular, proprioceptive—contribute to static balance regulation. Comprising two sessions each week, each lasting fifty minutes, the water exercise group engaged in an eight-week program. The workout's intensity ranged from 50 to 75 percent of maximal heart rate. The groups were reevaluated with the same balancing tests after the intervention.
Results: In the aquatic exercise group, significant increases in the proprioceptive and vestibular contributions to balance control after the intervention were seen; no notable changes in the visual system. The control group had no appreciable variation in balance ratings. These findings show that water training is efficient in improving the vestibular and proprioceptive systems, which are essential for preserving balance.
Discussion: Especially the proprioceptive and vestibular systems, the aging process naturally reduces the functioning of the sensory systems engaged in balance regulation. These results of this research confirm the theory that water training may help to improve balance by means of enhanced sensory systems, lower fall risk, and better performance of everyday tasks. The visual system did not show this impact, hence several kinds of treatments might be necessary. These findings coincide with other research indicating the advantages of aquatic exercise for elderly persons; but the effects can change depending on men and women and among various health disorders like osteoarthritis, Future studies might investigate how water training affects other functional outcomes in elderly persons including dynamic balance.
Eventually:
Particularly via strengthening proprioception and the vestibular system, aquatic training seems to be a good intervention for older women trying to improve balancing. For elderly persons, this strategy may assist lower fall risk and enhance their quality of living. Long-term consequences and the effects of combining water exercise with other treatments should be investigated in further research projects.
This overview presents a clear picture of the relevance of the research on water exercise and balance in older women in treating balance-related problems in the elderly by concentrating on its results, approaches, and consequences.
Please click the link below to get comprehensive research information: jrrs.mui.ac.ir/article_31247.html