Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of balance training with Nintendo Wii technology, with and without the use of additional sensory information (subpatellar bandage), in the functional mobility and gait speed of elderly female fallers. Methods Twenty elderly women were divided into two groups: group I: trained with the use of the Nintendo Wii; group II: trained using the Nintendo Wii and the addition of sensory information (subpatellar bandage). The functional mobility was assessed with the Timed up and Go test (TUG) and gait speed with the 10 m test. The tests were carried out with and without the use of the subpatellar bandage. The training was carried out within sessions of 30 minutes, twice a week, using three different games (Penguin Slide, Table Tilt, and Tightrope). Results There was an increase in the gait speed and a decrease in the TUG time in both groups, independently of the sensory condition used (p < 0.05). In the short term, the subpatellar bandage improved the TUG time (p < 0.05) and the gait speed (p < 0.01). Conclusion The training for postural balance with virtual reality was effective for improving functional mobility and gait speed of elderly female fallers. The subpatellar bandage did not maximize the effect of training.

RESUMO O processo natural do envelhecimento humano apresenta alterações morfológicas e fisiológicas, como alterações de equilíbrio e da marcha, aumentando o risco de cair. Alguns estudos investigaram a utilização da informação sensorial na melhora do equilíbrio corporal utilizando o toque suave em uma superfície rígida e estacionária, verificando uma redução significativa da oscilação corporal. Avaliou-se os efeitos da informação sensorial adicional durante a marcha em mulheres idosas. Foram avaliadas 30 mulheres com 60 anos ou mais. A adição da informação sensorial foi feita por uma bandagem infrapatelar. As participantes realizaram os testes propostos pelo Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), pelo Timed Up and Go (TUG) e pelo Teste de Caminhada de 10 Metros (TC10m), com e sem a bandagem infrapatelar. As comparações dos dados foram realizadas com o teste t pareado e o teste de Wilcoxon, com p≤0,05. Houve diferença significativa na comparação do TUG (sem bandagem: 10,13±2,1; com bandagem: 9,71±2,1, p=0,0007) e no DGI (sem bandagem: 20,65±2,1; com bandagem: 22,1±2,1, p=0,002). Não houve diferença significativa no uso da bandagem no TC10m. Os resultados mostraram que o uso da informação sensorial adicional gerada pela bandagem infrapatelar promoveu melhora da mobilidade funcional e do desempenho físico em mulheres idosas.

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Background: Postural balance consists of information emanating from the interaction of visual, somatosensory and vestibular systens. This information is impaired in aging, leading to postural control changes in the elderly, increasing the risk of falls in this population. The postural balance may be improved with the addition of sensory information, such as a subpatelar bandage. Objective: To investigate the effect of using additional sensory information in gait speed and functional mobility of older fallers. Methods: 28 elderly women were evaluated, all were considered fallers. The test Timed Up and Go (TUG) was used to assess functional mobility and 10m Test to evaluate the gait speed. The tests were performed with and without the addition of additional sensory information (subpatelar strip). The normality was verified by the Shapiro-Wilk test and the results were compared using paired Student t test and Wilcoxon test. Results: There was significant difference in the TUG (p = 0.0006) and in the gait speed (p = 0.004) with and without subpatelar strip. Conclusion:The use of additional sensory information increased the gait speed and functional mobility of older fallers.