Effects of Ai Chi Exercises on Balance in Geriatric Individuals

Year 2018, Volume: 1 Issue: 3, 113 - 118, 31.12.2018

Barış Gürpınar İlkşan Demirbüken Kamile İnan Keleş Nursen İlçin

Abstract

Objective: The deterioration of the balance and falls are the
major causes of mortality and morbidity for geriatric individuals. While
investigating the effectiveness of many methods for improving the balance,
exercises in water can be an effective and safe alternative to the development
of balance.

Material and Methods: 15 healthy
volunteers with the mean age of 76.35 +4.53 from the nursing home were
participated in a 45-minute ai chi session for 8 weeks, 2 days a week. Berg's
balance test (BBG) was used for the evaluation of balance, and the timed up and
go (TUG) test was used for functional capacity assessments.

 

Results: After 8-week ai chi exercise program, BBT and TUG
test results showed a statistically significant improvement (p <0.05). The
BBT score increased from 54.6 + 3.45 to 58.46 + 2.47 and the TUG
test duration decreased from 11.38 + 1.33 to 9.02 + 0.61.

 

Conclusion: The results of our study showed that Ai Chi exercises
are an effective method in increasing balance and functional capacity in
geriatric individuals.

Keywords

Balance, aquatherapy

Geriatrik Bireylerde Ai Chi Egzersizlerinin Denge Üzerine Etkileri

Abstract

Amaç: Dengenin bozulması ve düşmeler geriatrik
bireyler açısından önemli mortalite ve morbitide nedenidir. Dengenin
geliştirilmesi için birçok yöntemin etkinliği araştırılırken su içerisinde
yapılan egzersizlerinin dengenin geliştirilmesi açısından etkili ve güvenli bir
alternatif oluşturabilir.

 

Gereç ve
Yöntemler:
Huzurevinde kalan yaş ortalamaları 76.35 +4.53 15 sağlıklı gönüllü katılımcı 8
hafta süresince, haftada 2 gün 45 dakikalık ai chi seansına katıldı. Dengenin
değerlendirmesi için Berg denge testi (BDT), fonksiyonel kapasite
değerlendirmeleri için ise zamanlı kalk yürü (ZKY) testi kullanıldı.

 

Bulgular:  8
haftalık ai chi egzersiz programı sonrasında katılımcıların BDT ve ZKY test
sonuçlarında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir gelişme görüldü (p<0.05). BDT
skoru 54.6+3.45 dan 58.46+2.47 ‘ye yükselirken, ZKY test süresi 11.38+1.33’dan
9.02+0.61’e indi.

 

Sonuç: Çalışmamızın sonuçları Ai Chi egzersizlerini
geriatrik bireylerde denge ve fonksiyonel kapasiteyi arttırmada etkili bir
yöntem olduğunu göstermiştir. 

Keywords

Denge, su içi egzersiz

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