Effects of Ai Chi Exercises on Balance in Geriatric Individuals

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Balance,aquatherapy

Geriatrik Bireylerde Ai Chi Egzersizlerinin Denge Üzerine Etkileri

Öz

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. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Denge,su içi egzersiz

Kaynakça

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