TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2017//
TI  - The effects of physical training without equipment on pain perception and balance in the elderly: a randomized controlled trial
JO  - Work
A1  - Patti, Antonino
A1  - Bianco, Antonino
A1  - Karsten, Bettina
A1  - Alessandra Montalto, Maria
A1  - Battaglia, Giuseppe
A1  - Bellafiore, Marianna
A1  - Cassata, Daniela
A1  - Scoppa, Fabio
A1  - Paoli, Antonio
A1  - Iovane, Angelo
A1  - Messina, Giuseppe
A1  - Palma, Antonio
SP  - 23
EP  - 30
VL  - 57
IS  - 1
N2  - BACKGROUND: Research supports a link between exercise and falls prevention in the older population. <br><br>OBJECTIVES: Our aims were to evaluate pain perception and balance skills in a group of elderly subjects and to examine the consequences of a standardized equipment-free exercise program intervention on these variables. The study utilized a randomized controlled trial method. <br><br>METHODS: 92 subjects were recruited from a rural Sicilian village (Resuttano, Sicily, Italy). Subjects were randomly split into two groups, an experimental group (EG; n = 49) and a control group (CG; n = 43). Qualified fitness instructors delivered the standardized physical exercise program for the EG whilst the CG did not receive this exercise intervention. The Berg Balance Scale and the Oswestry Disability Index were administered in both groups before (T0) and after the intervention (T1). <br><br>RESULTS: At T1, the EG group significantly improvement in balance (p < 0.0001) and pain perception (p < 0.0001). No significant differences were found within the CG both in BBS and ODI, respectively. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a 13-weeks standardized exercise equipment-free program is effective in improving balance and perception of pain in the elderly. This type of intervention can consequently provide a low cost strategy to counteract the rate of disability in elderly.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1051-9815
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/WOR-172539
ID  - ref1
ER  -