Effect of Ankle Exercise Program and Proprioceptive Training on Stability, Functional Activity Performance in Elderly Population

Abstract

Background: Balance is defined as the ability to maintain the centre of gravity within the base of support during human daily life activities’. Due to physiological process of ageing, there’s decreased ability to generate force in the lower extremity muscles resulting in falls which have a deep impact on functional activity performance. The purpose of this study is to see the improvement in stability and performance of ADL’s in response to ankle exercise program and proprioceptive training in community-dwelling elderly population and to compare the effect of both. Method: This comparative experimental study included 40 ambulatory elderly individuals, both male and female of the age group of >65 years. The individuals with known neurological or cardiac condition were excluded. Then the subjects were recruited in 2 groups, 20 each. Group 1: Ankle exercise program (strengthening and stretching exercise for ankle musculature). Group 2: Proprioceptive training (proprioceptive exercise of the foot). The intervention period was for four weeks (5 sessions per week). Result: On the statistical analysis of data by using SPSS v16, level of significance kept at <0.005 it was found that on Wilcoxon test the difference was significant post-intervention (p= 0.000) for both groups. On Mann Whitney U test, the change wasn’t significant (p = 0.069 for POMA and 0.3 for ABC). Conclusion: The study concludes that there’s a significant improvement in stability and functional activity for the performance of ADL’s after the ankle exercise program and proprioceptive training.

Keywords

• ankle exercise program
• proprioceptive training
• poma
• abc scale
• balance
• geriatric