Balance improvement and reduction of likelihood of falls in older women after Cawthorne and Cooksey exercises

Abstract

Vestibular system is the absolute referential for the maintenance of balance. Functional deficit with aging can result in balance disturbance and in increase of likelihood of falls.

Aim: To verify whether specific therapeutic approach of the system can promote motor learning and can contribute to the improvement of balance and to decrease of likelihood of falls.

Study design: Clinical prospective.

Material and method: Fifteen women, aged 60 to 69, mean = 64.8 years old (+/- 2.95), resident in Barra Mansa-RJ, were submitted to Cawthorne and Cooksey exercises during three months, three times a week, during sixty minutes. They were evaluated with Berg Balance Scale (BBS), whose scores determine the possibility of fall (PQ).

Results: Comparing the data obtained before and after intervention, we observed significant difference (p< 0.05), showing improvement in BBS scores and decrease in PF.

Conclusion: Cawthorne and Cooksey exercises were able to promote significant improvement in the balance of this sample and they can be applied as prevention and treatment in balance disturbances in elderly people.

Graph 1

Quantity (in percentage) of subjects and their respective rate of likelihood of fall (PQ) in the 1st assessment

Graph 2

Values of Berg Balance Scale (score) in control and studied groups in 1st and 2nd assessment

Graph 3

Values of Likelihood of fall (%) in control and studied groups in the 1st and 2nd assessment.