Acute effect of boing balance board on postural control in older adults

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Balance training has demonstrated a positive effect on older adults. However, the specific types and durations of interventions needed to effectively address postural deficits in aging individuals remain important areas of study. It is crucial to impact their motor performance quickly to bring about changes in postural control. AIM: This study aims to investigate the effect of an acute motor intervention using a balance board called the "Boing" on postural control in elderly individuals. METHOD: Twenty senior women between the ages of 60 and 78 were divided into two groups: Intervention Group (IG, n=10) and Control Group (n=10). Both groups performed a pretest postural task on a force plate, including conditions with feet together, feet apart, and semi-tandem stance. Participants in the IG then underwent the motor intervention on the Boing balance board, which disturbed balance in the antero-posterior and medio-lateral directions, similar to the pretest conditions. After the intervention, a posttest was conducted for both groups using the same procedure as the pretest. One week later, a retention test was performed. Analysis of center of pressure (COP) was conducted, examining total displacement (DOT) and root mean square (RMS) in the antero-posterior and medio-lateral directions. RESULTS: A two-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed that during the posttest phase, there were significant differences between the groups in DOT and ML RMS specifically in the semi-tandem condition. The IG group exhibited lower values. CONCLUSION: The Boing balance board shows promise as a useful apparatus for improving postural control through acute motor intervention.