F-3-15-05
AN ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE REHABILITATION OF BALANCE AND MOBILITY DISORDERS IN THE GERIATRIC POPULATION.
Debra. J. Rose, Sean Clark, Elizabeth Sutton, & Ben Young. Motor Behavior Laboratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. USA.
Purpose: Apply the principles underlying the theory of perception and control of bodily orientation (Riccio & Stoffregen, 1988) to the development of a rehabilitation program for geriatric populations experiencing debilitating balance and mobility disorders.
Method: Forty four older adults (X = 79.4 years) identified as high-risk for falls were randomly assigned to a control or intervention group. Following a two-day baseline testing phase, adults in the intervention group participated in a dynamic balance training program, twice a week for two months. The intervention focused on the systematic manipulation of task (i.e., complexity and pacing) and environmental constraints (i.e., visual and support-surface characteristics). All balance testing and training was conducted on the Pro Balance Master (NeuroCom, Int.). Two tests of disability (i.e., Berg & Timed Up and Go) and a two-dimensional gait analysis were also conducted pre- and post-intervention to determine the extent to which the intervention influenced the level of mobility and disability observed.
Results: Repeated measures multivariate analyses and follow-up testing conducted indicated a significant improvement in the dynamic balance and sensory integration capabilities of the intervention group only. The level of disability observed was also significantly reduced as a function of the intervention. The ability to attenuate the forces produced by action was also significantly improved in the intervention group, leading to greater upper body control and head stability during gait.
Conclusion: Theory-driven rehabilitation programs that focus on manipulating the interaction between the individual, task and performance environment can effectively reduce the degree of multiple system impairment and overall level of disability experienced by older adults with disorders of balance and mobility.
F-3-15-06
REHABILITATION OF SENILE ELDERLY PATIENTS BY THEATER-TYPE VIRTUAL FACILITY FOR ENTERTAINMENT
H. Wakamatsu and K. Takahara (Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo Japan)
Abstract: For the rehabilitation of senile elderly patients in geriatric institutions, a theater-type playing facility fox-their amusement is provided by techniques of virtual reality. The playing facility consists of a simple playing game in which the players touch and hit moving virtual balls accompanying special sounds in the inner space of CRT display. They enter the same virtual inner space by combining their image with the playing game, which is supported by the software of "Virtual interactive Performance". The playing senile elderly patients are observed enjoying their play with their comrades who watch it around them or from the outside of the play area. They are observed to incline to pay a considerable attention to it and even to have an interest in the virtual play area which they have never experienced. Not only the playing elderly but also the watching elderly have been observed to have some chat with their expressive face change. There has been also seen decrease in their sudden abnormal behaviors in some while after their play. The present study can be a help to their nursing in their psychological change resulting from the recreation provided by virtual reality.
