DOES SIX WEEKS OF MULTI SENSORY TRAINING IMPROVE BALANCE AMONG OLDER ADULTS- A SINGLE BLINDED RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

K. Shrivastava¹, K.R. Ramaprabhu², S. Balasubramanian¹

Background: Balance is achieved and maintained by a set of sensorimotor control systems that include sensory input from vision (sight), proprioception (touch), and vestibular system (motion, equilibrium, spatial orientation). The information gathered from these three systems play a crucial role in successful goal-directed planning of action, execution of purposeful movements, and also to maintain balance.  Evidence suggests that optimal multisensory processing and integration decline with aging leading to falls in older adults. Multisensory training can be defined as a training program where we use more than one sensory input to produce a proper output according to the environment. It aims to optimize and strengthen the integration of the sensations at a higher level by reducing the input to two systems and forcing each system to work independently and individually. Thus it improves both the input and the integration of the sensations which is vitally important for balance. There is paucity in research on Multisensory training and its effects on the balance among the elderly population.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of multisensory training versus progressive resisted exercises on balance and functional mobility in the community-dwelling elderly population.

Methods: Using convenient sampling method 50 community-dwelling older adults were selected and were randomly allocated to 2 groups, the multisensory group (GMS n= 25) and the PRE group (GPRE n= 25) using Block Randomization method. Each participant received the respectively assigned intervention for 60 minutes, 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Outcome measures (Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go test and Guralnik Test Battery) were measured by a blinded assessor at 0 weeks (pre-intervention), 3rd week (mid intervention), and, 6th week (post-intervention). Statistical analyses were performed using one way repeated measure ANOVA and Factorial ANOVA.

Results: A significant difference was noted between the groups from baseline to the sixth week across all the three outcome measures; BBS (p=0.663 at 0 weeks, p=0.007 at 6 weeks), TUG (p=0.948 at 0 weeks, p=0.009 at 6 weeks) and GTB (p=0.749 at 0 weeks, p=0.00 at 6 weeks). The mean difference between the groups showed clinically meaningful improvement in GMS as compared to the GPRE group when measured by BBS for balance and TUG and GTB for functional mobility.  

Conclusion(s): Although both the groups improved in balance and functional mobility across all the three outcome measures, the multisensory training is more effective than Progressive resisted exercises for improving balance and functional mobility in the community-dwelling elderly population.

Implications: CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Multisensory training may be beneficial in improving balance and functional mobility among older adults.
RESEARCH IMPLICATIONS: Future studies are recommended with a larger sample size to study the effectiveness of multisensory training in older adults.

Funding, acknowledgements: NOT FUNDED

Keywords: Elderly population, Multisensory training, Fall prevention

Topic: Older people

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Srinivas College of Physiotherapy and Research Centre

Committee: Institutional Ethical Committee

Ethics number: 10MT006