Efeito de programa de intervenção com tarefas locomotoras e estabilizadoras no equilíbrio de idosos

Abstract

As the individual ages, there is a reduction in their physical and motor skills, leading, among other consequences, to a greater risk of falls. From this fact, it is important to seek and establish strategies that help the elderly to maintain these capacities and, consequently, avoid fatalities. The present study sought to test the hypothesis that an intervention program with locomotor and stabilizing tasks would have a positive effect on the body balance of the elderly. The aim of this study was to establish an eight-week motor intervention program with locomotor and stabilizing tasks for the elderly and to analyze the effect of this program on the evaluation of participants' balance. Eleven institutionalized elderly (5 males and 6 females) participated in the study, with a mean of 77.2 ± 8.5 years. Initially, the elderly were submitted to balance evaluation through the Berg Balance Scale. Subsequently, all the elderly participated in 16 sessions of the intervention program with locomotor and stabilizing tasks. After the last session, all the elderly were re-evaluated through the Berg Balance Scale. Statistical analysis compared the evaluation of the elderly before and after the intervention program. Although there was no statistical difference between the results of the evaluation of the balance before and after the intervention, it was possible to observe that the elderly participants presented better results in the evaluation of the balance after the intervention program. With improved balance, the elderly reduce the risk of falls. It was concluded that prevention through physical activity, specifically the practice of locomotor and stabilizing activities, are important for this age group, since the risk of falls is greater when the subject is sedentary.