The Effect of an 8-week Exercise Program Focused on Anticipatory Postural Adjustments on Postural Control and Motor Function in the Elderly

Objectives Improving balance and motor function in the elderly for preventing falling and its irreparable consequences has attracted the attention of many researchers in the field of aging. The purpose of the present is to investigate the effect of an exercise program based on Anticipatory Postural Adjustments (APAs) on postural control and motor function of the elderly. Methods & Materials In this experimental study conducted in 2017, the study population consists of 38 eligible male elderly people with a history of falls at least once in the last six months living in Isfahan, Iran in two groups: 18 in the test group (mean age =70.4 +/- 3.2, mean height=65.3 +/- 6.2 cm, mean weight= 65.3 +/- 4.2 kg) and 15 in the control group (mean age =69.6 +/- 3.1 years, mean height =167 +/- 5.5 cm, mean weight =67.3 +/- 6.8). A foot-scan device was used to measure their postural control, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was taken to measure their motor function. Data were analyzed in SPSS v. 20 software using repeated measures ANOVA at the significance level of P=0.05. Results The exercise program significantly improved the mean postural control scores in anterior/posterior direction from 28.1 +/- 6.2 to 20.5 +/- 2.4 (F=8.21, P <= 0.05), in medial/lateral direction from 17.1 +/- 1.5 to 13.2 +/- 2.9 (F=13.4, P <= 0.05), and in overall from 312.4 +/- 21.2 to 285.8 +/- 17.5 (F=10.02, P <= 0.05); It also improved the mean TUG test score from 13.3 +/- 2.1 to 10.1 +/- 1.0 (F=16.02, P <= 0.05). The experimental group showed a better performance than the control group after exercise in TUG test and postural control parameters (P <= 0.05). Conclusion An 8-week exercise program focused on APAs can be effective in improving postural control and motor function of the elderly.