32 Effect of Dual Task Training Regarding to Postural Stability in the Healthy Elderly

Postural instability problem in the elderly is associated the cognitive impairment. The ageing process is directly linked to impairments in postural stability. Dual task activity is a commonplace to most activities of daily living. The elderly who has a postural instability and cognitive decline that are mechanisms which lead to an increased risk of falls in the elderly.

To investigate the effect of dual task training on postural stability in the healthy elderly.

The sixty-six healthy elderly were selected based on the inclusion criteria. With randomized 33 participants in each experimental and control group. The experimental group received dual task training for 6 weeks delivered three days per week. The control group received education for postural stability and aerobic exercise. Their postural stability was assessed using the Mini-BESTest in before and after training.

The score of the Mini-BESTest compare between before and after 6 weeks were significantly different in postural stability and cognitive from that before in experimental group (p<0.001).

The finding support the dual task training program can improve postural stability in the elderly. Therefore, the dual task training program should be implemented with the elderly to be a choice of exercises for the elderly with postural instability.