Abstract
[Purpose] To determine whether plantar perception training using a hardness discrimination task efficiently improves stabilization of standing postural balance in the oldest patients. [Subjects] Nineteen elderly persons, 75 years of age or older, living in nursing facilities were randomly assigned evenly to either a perception exercise group or a control group. [Method] The perception exercise group was given a task designed to train ability to discriminate different degrees of hardness of foam rubber. The training period was 10 days. Control group subjects were instructed to maintain a standing posture on foam rubber. Before and after training we measured center-of-gravity sway of the standing subjects, and measured the sway path length. [Results] The data revealed a significant reduction in center-of-gravity sway post-training in the perception exercise group as well as a significant increase in the forward displacement of the center of gravity. [Conclusion] These results suggest that plantar perception exercises might efficiently stabilize standing postural balance of the oldest patients.
