Sensory-Specific Balance Training in Older Adults: Effect on Proprioceptive Reintegration and Cognitive Demands

This systematic review investigated whether healthy older adults benefit from training interventions in motor-cognitive dual-task (DT) situations and which specific aspects of the intervention and/or task selection contribute to training benefits. Training effects were analysed with regard to the training programme (e.g., general ST or DT training) and task conditions (e.g., standing or walking, complexity of secondary cognitive task). Literature was searched via OVIDsp (Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO). DT studies were included by the following criteria: (1) investigation of at least one motor task, (2) assessment of DT performance outcomes on standing or walking, (3) conduction of an intervention, and (4) investigation of older adults in an experimental-control group design or an old-young comparison. Thirteen studies met all inclusion criteria. Four types of interventions were identified: (1) general single-task (ST) motor training, (2) specific ST motor training, (3) general DT training, and (4) task-related (specific) DT training. For DT standing conditions only DT interventions improved motor performance, whereas DT walking also benefits by ST training. Most benefits on motor and cognitive performance seem to be reached by DT training interventions whereas a GST produced lowest effects. Thus, balance orientated motor and cognitive DT performance in healthy older adults can be improved by performance related exercises. Furthermore, to reach beneficial effects, it seems necessary that the training intervention includes a certain level of exercise load such as rising difficulties, appropriate intensity and duration, a certain level of task specificity, and variable task prioritization. The transfer of training effects into everyday situations needs to be further investigated.

show abstract

“…Six of the included studies were RTCs [23,29,66,67,80,93]. All six studies, except that of Hall et al [23], were of high quality.…”

Section: Selection Criteriamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…-Investigated motor tasks: Seven studies investigated standing tasks [9,16,17,28,29,35,93]. Four studies examined walking [66,67,80,104], and two studies combined walking and standing tasks [23,79] to analyse intervention effects on DT performance.…”

Section: Classification Of Included Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Training effects on motor–cognitive dual-task performance in older adults

Wollesen

Voelcker‐Rehage

2013

Eur Rev Aging Phys Act

159

152

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…22,23 Older people with poor overall somatosensory function are more likely to report multiple (two or more) falls. 24 Several studies have used a peripheral neuropathy model to demonstrate a relationship between lower-limb somatosensory function and falls in older people.…”

Section: Somatosensory Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…35 Such interventions can decrease unnecessary high gains of visual and somatosensory systems under challenging sensory conditions 36 and reduce delay in reintegration of sensory information. 23 These have proven effective for improving measured as well as self-reported balance in older individuals and may also reduce falls. 37 …”

Section: Developing and Disseminating Physical Activity Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drawing on Related Knowledge to Advance Multiple Sclerosis Falls-Prevention Research

Ploughman¹,

Deshpande²,

Latimer-Cheung³

et al. 2014

International Journal of MS Care

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There is much to be learned from falls-related research outside the field of multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as from work within the MS field but not specific to falls or falls prevention. This article describes three examples of such bodies of work that have potential to broaden approaches to falls-prevention research: 1) sensory components of postural control among older adults, 2) lessons learned from physical activity promotion among people with spinal cord injury (SCI), and 3) aging among people with MS. Age-related deterioration in visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems or in sensory integration can adversely affect postural control and can contribute to falls in older people. Sensory-specific interventions designed for improving balance in older people could be adapted for preventing falls in individuals with MS. Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Action Canada's strategy for disseminating physical activity promotion interventions for adults with SCI has been successful and widely accepted by community partners. Many of the peer-based interventions developed by SCI Action Canada are potentially relevant and could be adapted to the MS population for both physical activity promotion and falls prevention. Considering that older people with MS constitute a growing proportion of the MS population and over 70% of older people with MS report moderate to extreme balance problems, falls prevention should be one of the key components, particularly for MS management in older or more disabled groups. Overall, given people's different ages, symptoms, strengths, and barriers, a tailored MS falls-prevention intervention that includes peer/caregiver support is critical. Int J MS Care. 2014;16:163-170.

show abstract

“…Information on the level of the vibration frequency used in several studies was helpful for our research. The vibration frequency which effectively raises the thresholds of muscle spindles and mechanoreceptors is approximately 100 Hz 14,19,20) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of the Suprasprinal Center during Soleus Stretching Reflexes with Simultaneous Vibration

et al. 2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract.[Purpose] We examined whether monoaminergic brain stem centers contribute to reflexive soleus (Sol) activity when vibration is applied to ankle joints on a moving platform.[Methods] Ten male subjects (23-35 years) stood with their eyes closed on a movable platform. Vibrators (92 Hz) were applied to the malleolus and Achilles' tendon. Sol electromyographic (EMG) responses of short-(SLR) and medium-latency reflexes (MLR) during platform movement were collected under the control, Sol vibration (SV), and malleolus vibration (MV) conditions. The SLR, MLR areas and their latencies were measured.[Results] The Sol SLR and MLR onsets were significantly delayed under the SV and MV conditions compared to the control condition. The intercept of the regression line under the MV conditions was significantly greater than under the SV condition.[Conclusion] Delays of SLR and MLR onset under the SV and MV conditions might correspond to the length of time required for temporal summation of α-motoneurons due to inhibition of afferent fibers. A rise in the intercept of the regression line under the MV condition means an increase of MLR area. That is, the monoaminergic brain stem centers compensated for stimulation of the group II interneuron via ankle joint afferents acting against the inhibition of the stimulation of Sol α-motoneurons.

show abstract

Sensory-Specific Balance Training in Older Adults: Effect on Proprioceptive Reintegration and Cognitive Demands

Abstract: The results of this study support short-term enhanced postural responses to proprioceptive reintegration following a sensory-specific balance exercise program.

Cited by 54 publications

References 40 publications

Training effects on motor–cognitive dual-task performance in older adults

Training effects on motor–cognitive dual-task performance in older adults

Drawing on Related Knowledge to Advance Multiple Sclerosis Falls-Prevention Research

The Role of the Suprasprinal Center during Soleus Stretching Reflexes with Simultaneous Vibration

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About