The Influence of General Fitness Training on Balance and Gait of the Elderly Staying in the Chronic Medical Care Ward in Legnica

Bartłomiej Halat
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Dorota Brudz
Katarzyna Milewicz
Teresa Pop
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Zbigniew Śliwiński
Centrum Fizjoterapii w Zgorzelcu, Polska
Zakład Opiekuńczo-Leczniczy ZOZ Caritas Diecezji Legnickiej w Legnicy, Polska
Zakład Opiekuńczo-Leczniczy ZOZ Caritas Diecezji Legnickiej w Legnicy, Polska
Instytut Fizjoterapii Wydziału Medycznego Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, Rzeszów, Polska
Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielcach, Wydział Nauk o Zdrowiu, Instytut Fizjoterapii, Kielce, Polska

Abstract

Introduction: Aging is an inevitable process resulting in number of unfavorable changes within the loco motor apparatus and internal organs and causing the impairment of the organism’s regenerative and compensatory abilities. The endurance of the organism decreases gradually, however, the old age cannot be perceived as a disease. It is not the age, but disability that is the problem of elderly people. Growing number of the elderly seeking medical care is a serious challenge for geriatric rehabilitation.

Aim: The aim of the research was to evaluate the influence of General Fitness Training on balance and gait of the elderly staying on the Chronic Medical Care Ward in Legnica.

Materials and methods: 30 randomly chosen patients of chronic medical care home of Caritas of Legnicka Diocese Healthcare Centre in Legnica were examined from January to September 2012. The average age was 70. All patients reported problems with balance. The subjects were divided into 2 groups. Participants from the test group attended exercises, whereas the control group consisted of patients not attending exercises. Tinetti Test was performed to evaluate balance, gait and risk of falling while the Up and Go Test was performed to evaluate gait and functional capacity. The evaluation took place before and after a three month period when general fitness training was applied.

Results: The research showed the improvement of the results of the test group in both Tinetti and Up and Go test.

Conclusions: 1. Performance of general fitness exercises systematically has a positive effect on balance, gait efficiency and reduces the risk of falls of the elderly, the fact was documented by the results of the Tinetti test. 2. Adverse changes in balance and gait speed were observed in the elderly people who did not participate in physical activities.

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