Fall and Quality of Life of the Elderly: Effect of a Physical Exercise Program Focused on the Balance Training: Fall and Quality of Life of the Elderly

Abstract

Background of study: the incidence of falls only increases in the elderly, which makes fall a major public health problem. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of balance exercises on young old and old people presenting the risk of falling. Methodology: A total of 60 elderly subjects with an average age of 79.2 ± 8.18 years divided in two according to the age classification of the World Health Organization, with Group 1 aged 60-75 years (young old) and group 2 aged 75-90 years (old). The effects of 4 months of exercise were evaluated before and after the intervention program with the Timed get up and go test, the one leg  test, the SF 32 short form, ruffier dickson index, and the six minutes’ walk test.  Results: After 4 months of intervention, we noticed the young old men significantly reduced their risk of falling (p <0.0001), improved their walking distance by six minutes’ walk test (p <0.0001), balance (p <0.0001), physical function (p <0.0001), physical role (p <0.0001), emotional role (p <0.0001), mental health (p <0.0001), pain (p <0, 0001), while older men statistically significantly reduced their risk of falling (p <0.0001), improved walking distance by six minutes’ walk test (p <0.0003), balance (p <0.022), adaptive ability to effort (p <0.0001), physical function (p <0.0001), physical role (p <0.0001), and pain (p <0.0001). This study also reveals that young old men significantly improved their functional capacity and quality of life more than the elderly (p <0.05). Conclusions: The balanced exercise program improves balance, cardiorespiratory endurance, quality of life and reduces the risk of falling young and old. These parameters have been much improved in young old men rather than old men.