Given the increasing elderly population and the challenges associated with falls, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacological exercise interventions in improving motor function and reducing fall risk, as previous research indicates a lack of comparative studies in this area. This study specifically compared the effects of core stability exercises and DNS on balance, gait speed, and fear of falling in elderly.
This randomized controlled trial with a pre-test and post-test design was conducted on 36 elderly women. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups of 12: a CSE group, a DNS group, and a control group. The intervention consisted of 6 weeks of training, with three sessions per week. Static balance was assessed using the Sharpened Romberg Test, dynamic balance with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, gait speed with the 10-Meter Walk Test, and fear of falling with the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I).
Paired t-tests revealed significant improvements in static balance, dynamic balance, gait speed, and reduced fear of falling in both experimental groups compared to pre-test. The control group showed no significant changes. ANCOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests indicated that both experimental groups outperformed the control group significantly (p<0.05), but no significant differences were found between the core stability and DNS groups.
Both core stability and DNS are effective in improving motor function in elderly women. It is recommended to use combined protocols of these approaches to prevent falls and enhance quality of life, potentially reducing the economic and social burden of falls.