The Effect of Technology-Based Exercises on Physical Fitness and Activities of Daily Living, among Elderly People with Balance Disorder

Introduction: Considering the increase in life expectancy in different societies and growing rate of older adults with various physical problems, it is crucial to explore low-risk methods for the enhancement of elderly people’s activities of daily living and physical fitness. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of technology-based exercises on physical fitness and activities of daily living among elderly people with balance disorder residing in nursing homes. Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 60 elderly individuals with balance disorders living in nursing homes in Shiraz. Participants were randomly divided into an intervention and a control group each containing 30 members. The intervention group participants received technology-based exercises through Xbox Kinect in form of two 30-45-min sessions per week for six weeks. The control group, on the other hand, received the routine programs of nursing homes including walking and ping pong. After six weeks, physical fitness, and daily living activities were evaluated using senior fitness test and activities of daily living scale in both groups and were compared to the baseline Results: The results showed that after the intervention, the mean score of activities of daily living was significantly increased in the intervention group (before intervention 87.1± 10.4, after intervention 92.6± 9.1) compared to the control group’s (before intervention 86.1± 11.3, after intervention 85.1± 1.2) (P = 0.001). Also technology-based exercises led to increase in the average of the most of physical fitness items including chair stand (P = 0.00), arm curl (P = 0.00), chair sit and reach (P = 0.001), back stretch (P = 0.007) and eight-foot up and go (P = 0.001). These changes were not observed in the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that technology-based exercises were effective in the promotion of physical fitness and activities of daily living among elderly people with balance disorder residing in nursing homes and it could replace group and real sports