[Attentional control of postural stability in institutionalised elderly people: effects of a physical exercise program]

(Contrôle attentionnel de la stabilité posturale chez la personne âgée institutionnalisée: effets d'un programme d'activité physique.)

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
We aimed to examine the effect of a physical activity program on postural sway and on the attentional control of postural abilities in elderly frail adults.

METHOD:
Twelve older adults (age 81.4+/-9 years) institutionalised in a geriatric care institution participated in the physical activity program posture-balance-mobility (PBM) twice a week (1 hour per session) for 12 weeks. We analysed stabilometric data for surface and length of the center of pressure (COP) sway, with eyes open and eyes closed, under single-task and dual-task conditions on a firm floor before and after the training program. During the static postural evaluation and under the dual-task condition, subjects performed an attention-demanding cognitive task, the random number generation task.

RESULTS:
Only the length of COP sway was more important under the dual-task condition than under the single-task condition (p=0.05). At baseline, cognitive performance was significantly weaker under the dual-task condition (standing) than under the single-task condition (seated), with eyes closed but not eyes open (p<0.05). However, after the training program, the performance of the cognitive task did not significantly differ between the dual-task condition with eyes closed and the single-task condition with eyes closed.

CONCLUSION:
The training program allowed elderly subjects to improve their ability to perform an attention-demanding cognitive task while standing still, in particular with their eyes closed. Although balance seemed to be less stable under the dual-task condition than under the single-task condition, these results could be interpreted as an improvement of the attentional control of postural stability.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Albinet, C (C); Bernard, P-L (PL); Palut, Y (Y);

Affiliation: E.A. 2991, laboratoire Efficience et Déficience Motrices, faculté des sciences du sport, université Montpellier-I, 700 avenue du Pic-Saint-Loup, 34080 Montpellier, France. albinet.cedric(-atsign-)free.fr

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: English Abstract; Journal Article

Journal: Annales de réadaptation et de médecine physique : revue scientifique de la Société française de rééducation fonctionnelle de réadaptation et de médecine physique (Ann Readapt Med Phys), published in France. (Language: fre)

Reference: 2006-Dec; vol 49 (issue 9) : pp 625-31

Dates: Created 2006/11/27; Completed 2007/02/08;

PMID: 16859801, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.