Abstract
【Purpose】This study aimed to examine the effect of foot baths on falls, physical function and autonomic function in frail elderly people.【Subjects】The subjects were 38 older adults (mean age 78.0 ± 6.7 years) who could walk independently and received rehabilitation services in our day-care center.【Methods】Subjects were divided into intervention and control groups. Those in the intervention group received a foot bath before rehabilitation treatment twice a week for 3 months. Physical function was measured using the grip strength, 10-meter walking speed, Timed Up and Go test, one-leg standing time test, functional reach test, ankle dorsiflexion angle, and two-point discrimination of plantar test. Autonomic function was measured by using “kiritsu meijin (provided by CROSSWELL)”．【Result】All subjects completed the study, 19 in the intervention group and 16 in the control group. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. After the intervention, a significant improvement in ankle dorsiflexion angle and two-point discrimination of plantar (p ＜ 0.01) was found only in the intervention group. There was no significant difference in autonomic function or falls experience between the groups.【Conclusion】We found that foot baths led to partially improved lower limb function. However, further verification will be necessary about the effect on fall prevention.
