Otago Exercises, Square Stepping Exercises, Elderly, Fear of Falling

Comparison of Square Stepping Exercise Training and Otago Exercise Training in Geriatric Individuals in Terms of Balance and Fear of Falling:Randomized Controlled Studie

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of Otago Exercise Training and Square Stepping Exercise Training on balance and fear of falling in geriarthric individuals and the superiority of the two exercise training for these parameters. The volunteer individuals participating in the study were randomly divided into 3 groups as otago exercise group, square stepping exercise group and control group with equal number of men and women.

The individuals who participated in study had a homogeneous distribution in terms of age, gender, BMI, height, weight and occupational status in all three groups. However, the number of female individuals was higher in all three groups. In the study, individuals in the exercise training groups received square stepping and otago exercise training 3 days a week for 6 weeks, while individuals in the control group did not receive any training. All three groups were evaluated before and six weeks after the training.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 65-75 years old
• Education level at least literate
• Able to walk independently
• Standardized Mini Mental Test Score ≥ 24
• No neurological or lower extremity disease
• Healthy geriatric individuals who agreed to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Taking 3 or more medications that may affect cognitive status
• Individuals continuing any exercise/rehabilitation program
• Underwent any surgery for the lower extremities
• Having any neurological-orthopedic problem that may affect gait and balance