[Purpose] The aim of this study was to examine the effects of ball exercise as a general
exercise on the balance abilities of elderly individuals by comparing ball exercise with
virtual reality exercise. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty elderly individuals residing in
communities were randomly divided into a virtual reality game group and a ball exercise
group and conducted exercise for 30 min 3 times a week for 8 weeks. [Results] Step length
increased significantly, and the average sway speed and Timed Up and Go time significantly
decreased in both groups. A comparison of sway length after the intervention between the
two groups revealed that the virtual reality game exercise resulted in a reduction than
the ball exercise. [Conclusion] The results of this study indicated that the virtual
reality game exercise may improve balance and gait of elderly individuals in
communities.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Pilates exercise on a
mat and balance exercise on an unstable base of support for trunk stability on the balance
ability of elderly females. [Subjects and Methods] Forty elderly women aged 65 or older
were equally assigned to a Pilates mat exercise (PME) group and an unstable support
surface exercise (USSE) group. They conducted exercise three times per week for 12 weeks
for 40 minutes each time. In order to examine balance, sway length and the speed of the
center of foot pressure were measured for one minute, and in order to examine dynamic
balance, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was conducted. [Results] After the intervention,
sway length, sway speed, and TUG significantly decreased in both groups. A comparison of
sway speed after the intervention between the two groups revealed that the PME group
showed larger decreases than the USSE group. [Conclusion] PME and USSE elicited
significant effects on the static and dynamic balance of elderly female subjects,
suggesting that those exercises are effective at enhancing the balance ability of this
group of subjects. However, the Pilates mat exercise is regarded as being safer than
exercise on an unstable base of support.
[Purpose] We with respect to their effects on the compared hippotherapy with a horseback
riding simulator (JOBA, Panasonic Inc. JP) static and dynamic balance of children with
cerebral palsy (CP). [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-six children were randomly divided into
two groups: a hippotherapy group that included 13 children, and a horseback riding
simulator (JOBA, Panasonic Inc., Japan) group, which was also composed of 13 children. The
two groups participated in 1 hour of exercise per day, 3 times a week, for 12 weeks. The
subjects’ static balance ability was measured using BPM (software 5.3, SMS Healthcare
Inc., UK) as the center of pressure sway length while standing for 30 seconds with their
eyes open and looking to the front. Dynamic balance ability was measured using the PBS
(Pediatric Balance Scale). [Results] Both groups showed significant improvements in static
and dynamic balance but significant differences between the two groups were not found.
[Conclusion] The horseback riding simulator could be a useful alternative to hippotherapy
for the improvement of static and dynamic balance of children with CP.
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare two methods for the muscle
stabilization of the trunk of patients with chronic low back pain. The methods comprised
combination patterns of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and ball exercise.
[Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 40 volunteers who had low back pain. All subjects
were randomly assigned to either a group which received proprioceptive neuromuscular
facilitation or a group which performed ball exercise. Measurements were taken four times
in total, at pre-intervention, two weeks later, four weeks later, and six weeks later. The
main measurement methods used were the visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and
electromyography (EMG) for muscle activity. [Results] VAS and EMG activity were
significantly reduced in the PNF combination pattern group and the ball exercise group. A
comparison of the groups showed significant differences. In VAS and EMG activity; in
particular, the combination pattern group using PNF increased EMG activity more than the
ball exercise group did after six weeks of intervention. [Conclusion] This study showed
that PNF combination pattern training for six weeks was more effective for patients with
low back pain than performing ball exercise.
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