Functional balance & gait balance in normal geriatric population: By gait training with multiple task Pradhan Anwesh1,*, Raj Rishi2, Chaudhuri Gargi Ray3, Agarwal Shabnam1, Basak Tanusree1 1Associate Professor Nopany Institute of Healthcare Studies, Kolkata, India 2PG Student Nopany Institute of Healthcare Studies, Kolkata, India 3Professor, Nopany Institute of Healthcare Studies, Kolkata, India *Corresponding author: Anwesh Pradhan Associate Professor, Neuro Physiotherapy Department, Nopany Institute of Healthcare Studies, 2C Nando Mullick Lane, Kolkata, India, Pin-700006 Mobile: +91 9932874589, Email: anwesh0907@gmail.com
Online published on 26 October, 2018. Abstract The main impact of pathologies in geriatric population is falling due to abnormal gait deviations. Thus, fear of falling reduces their mobility that prevents independent living in geriatrics. Mobility depends on person's ability and perception to complete a task. Multiple task training is an interaction of motor and somatosensory inputs. Improvement of gait in geriatrics depends upon the type of task and environment, potentially due to cognitive dysfunction and reduced cognitive performance. Purpose of this Study Geriatric persons were trained with multiple task activity and mental tasking which may help them to improve their gait balance in the altered environment and eventually improve their gait task and reduced chances of fall. Materials and Method 40 normal geriatric individuals were taken in 2 groups. One group was trained with multiple task exercise while the other was trained with the same and cognitive task for the period of 4 weeks. Gait balance is measured by Berg balance score and Time up and go test. Results The independent t-test shows significant (p<0.05) difference between groups and the mean comparison shows multiple tasking with cognitive tasking has a better impact in improving gait balance in geriatric population. Conclusion Multiple tasks exercises with cognitive task can be used as a better tool to improve the gait balance than the multiple task exercises Top Keywords Fall, Gait balance, Multiple task exercise, Cognitive tasking. Top |