Efetividade de um programa de treinamento funcional em grupo baseado em “workstations” sobre o desempenho do equilíbrio e mobilidade em idosos com história de quedas

• Autor(a) principal: Araújo, Cibelle Vanessa de [UNIFESP]
• Data de Publicação: 2009
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
• dARK ID: ark:/48912/00130000064j1
• Texto Completo: http://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/9437
• topic: Equilíbrio; Mobilidade; Idosos; Quedas; Workstations; Equilíbrio postural; Acidentes por quedas

OBJECTIVES: A randomized and blinded clinical trial was carried out on elderly individuals with a history of falls to determine the effect of a “workstation” exercise protocol on balance, mobility and the occurrence of falls compared to an educational program for the prevention of falls and an educational program with a demonstration of functional exercises. METHODS: One hundred sixty-five elderly individuals with a history of falls and TUGT times between 13.5 and 30 seconds were evaluated and randomly divided into three groups: (1) orientation; (2) orientation and demonstration of functional exercises; and (3) workstations. Weekly sessions were given and the groups were reevaluated by a blinded observer after three months, determining an improvement in the TUGT (response variable), other balance and mobility tests and functional level (TUGT Manual, TUGT Cognitive, OARS, Balance Scale, Functional Reach, CTSIB, balance reactive strategies and DGI-8) and falls. RESULTS: There was an improvement in the scores on all tests in the three groups. Statistically significant differences between groups were only found on the TUGT (p=0,035), with the greatest reduction in time required to perform the test among the workstation group. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study suggest that participation in a weekly exercise program based on “workstations” is more effective than the other two programs evaluated regarding an improvement in balance and mobility in elderly individuals. However, further studies are needed in order to establish additional strategies that can sustain and maximize these benefits.