Zahra Bari, Mahin Aghdaei, Alireza Farsi, Hamidreza Kobravi,
Volume 100, Issue 100 (10-2020)
Abstract
The aim of present study was to determine the effect of different levels of balance task difficulty and muscle pattern sonification on balance elderlies. eleve healthy elderly mean age 66/09± 2/26 yr were selected voluntarily. The study inclusion criteria included no structural postural problems, lack of lower extremity fractures over the past six months, no uncorrected visual impairments, no vestibular disorders, and no use of nerve medications, narcotics, alcohol, and any substance leading to dizziness or lack of focus and affecting balance
Participants were asked to stand still on a stable platform under two conditions (with sonification of muscle activity pattern and without feedback) in three difficulty levels (6, 8, and 10). Stability index scores (Overall, Anterior- Posterior and Medial- Lateral) were calculated by Biodex Balance System. The duration of each test was 20 seconds and rest times were 10 seconds. Results showed that with increasing task difficulty, scores of overall balance ,Medial- Lateral balance and Anterior- Posterior balance. In addition, There was a significant reduction in the scores of Overall balance (p= 0/005), anterior - posterior balance (p= 0/002) and medial - lateral balance (p= 0/022) and sonification of muscle activity pattern condition compared with without sonification of muscle activity pattern condition in the level of 6. Overall, the results of this study showed that increasing task difficulty increases postural sway, and the availability of sonification of muscle activity pattern can improve balance and reduce postural sway.
Keywords: Electrical activity, Stability index, Biofeedback , Task Difficulty
