Comparison of Motor Learning Abilities Using Balance Training in Young and Senior Women

Motor skills learning is particularly relevant in rehabilitation settings, where patients often need to relearn movements that were lost due to injury or disease. The aim of the study was to assess the ability of motor learning in elder age, using balance training on a stabilometric platform (Homebalance) with visual biofeedback. Both the experimental group (senior women) and the control group (young adult women) underwent the same balance training program, after which demonstrated improvements in velocity and accuracy of movements changing position of center of gravity (COG). The groups differed in the absolute values of the times achieved, but the improvement during training showed similar dynamics. The initial improvement phase lasts approximately the same amount of time for young and old participants. The next training period (from the 6th week) shows a slower (still statistically significant) improvement dynamic in the young adult women group and a minimum improvement in the senior women group. All participants in both groups exhibited greater balance control following the intervention - both groups were able to apply their improved skills even in a non-trainable sequence with random target appearance. The results demonstrate that motor learning of balance skills using visual biofeedback is possible even in the elderly population, and that the dynamics of the process is similar in young and older people.