The effect of functional balance training in frail nursing home residents

The purpose of this study was to design and evaluate the specifically targeted functional balance training for a group of frail nursing home residents. Fifty residents of two nursing homes were assigned to an exercise and control group. Thirty-three participants (age 75.7 + or - 6.7 years) in the balance training group finished 12 weeks of training protocol that consisted of 14 activities that challenged different balance subsystems. The results showed that the participants in the training group reached higher score on Berg Balance Scale (BBS) (p < 0.001), were able to stand longer on a compliant surface with eyes opened and closed (p < 0.01 and p < 0.02, respectively), and were faster at both, the four square and ten meter walk tests (p < 0.001), whereas there were no changes for the control group during the same time period. Anyhow, functional improvement of balance did not reflect in the parameters of postural sway. In conclusion our results suggest that the specifically targeted functional balance training is effective as far as functional activities are concerned while this kind of training does not reflect as a change in the steadiness of the center of pressure (CoP).