Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the impact of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on kinematic variables related to postural control and fear of falling in elderly individuals who have experienced falls.
Methods: This semi-experimental study utilized a pre-test-post-test design. The sample consisted of 15 healthy elderly individuals and 15 elderly individuals with a history of falls, with an average age of 67.5 ± 2.5 years, selected through convenience sampling based on specific criteria. Postural control was assessed using a computerized dynamic posturography sensory organization test. Kinematic variables, such as overall center of pressure velocity in anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions, were measured across six different test conditions. Fear of falling was evaluated using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Participants engaged in moderate-intensity aerobic exercise twice a week for six weeks. Data were analyzed using mixed analysis of variance and Bonferroni post-hoc tests.
Results: The findings indicated that six weeks of aerobic exercise resulted in enhancements in kinematic variables related to postural control in all six test conditions and a reduction in fear of falling among elderly fallers (P<0.05), with significant improvements compared to healthy elderly individuals.
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to incorporate moderate-intensity aerobic exercise to enhance kinematic variables of postural control and reduce fear of falling in elderly individuals.