Influence of combining motor imagery therapy with counterbalance exercise on fall efficacy of the elderly

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of motor imagery therapy and its combination with counterbalance exercise on the fall efficacy of elderly people. Methods Totals of 156 eligible elderly people with fear of falling (FOF) were selected as objects and randomly divided into three groups. The first group was the control group, treated with routine rehabilitation nursing. People in the second group were treated with routine rehabilitation nursing plus motor imagery therapy. People in the third group were treated with routine nursing plus motor imagery therapy, combined with counterbalance exercise. The intervention lasted for 2 weeks. People in the three groups were assessed by fall efficacy and depression scales before and after the intervention. Results Regarding fall efficacy before and after the intervention, there were not significant differences in the control group [(3.79±1.46) points vs. (4.01±1.35)points, t=0.798, P>0.05)], or in the second group [(3.88±1.86) vs. (4.38±1.14), t=1.653, P>0.05)], but there was significant difference in the third group [(3.91±1.54) vs. (5.75±1.43), t=6.314, P 0.05)], but there were significant differences in the second group [(55.58±7.42) vs. (47.45±6.89), t=5.790, P<0.01)], and in the third group [(56.23±6.54) vs. (46.23±7.21), t=7.408, P<0.01)]. Conclusions The motor imagine therapy alone can not significantly improve fall efficacy of the elderly with FOF, but can significantly reduce their depression. Combined use of motor imagery therapy and counterbalance exercise can significantly increase their fall efficacy and reduce their depression. Key words: Elderly; Falling; Motor imagery therapy; Counterbalance exercise