Balance impairment is a common problem among adults aged 60 years and older due to age-related decline in the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems. These impairments increase the risk of falls, reduce mobility, and compromise functional independence and quality of life. Conventional balance training is commonly used to improve postural stability; however, the additional benefits of sensory integration training remain unclear.
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of sensory integration training combined with conventional balance training on static standing balance in older adults with a moderate risk of falls. Twenty-eight participants aged 60 years and above will be recruited and randomly allocated into an experimental group (n=14) and a control group (n=14). Experimental group will receive sesnory integration training and control group will receive conventional balance training three times per week for six weeks.
Balance performance will be assessed before and after the intervention using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), and Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB). Data will be analyzed using paired-sample t-tests for within-group comparisons and independent-sample t-tests for between-group comparisons. Statistical significance will be set at p<0.05.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants completed three supervised sessions per week following the same static balance progression: standing on both feet, feet side by side, tandem stance, and single-leg stance. Week 1: Static balance exercises on a firm surface. Week 2: Session 1: standard training; Session 2: auditory deprivation; Session 3: visual deprivation with verbal cues. Week 3: Static balance on a sandy surface while wearing comfortable footwear with normal visual and auditory input. Week 4: Session 1: standard training; Session 2: combined auditory and visual deprivation; Session 3: visual deprivation with verbal cues. Week 5: Session 1: standard training; Sessions 2-3: progressive shoulder-tap somatosensory perturbations with safety monitoring. Week 6: Static balance on sand with comfortable footwear. Session 1: visual and auditory deprivation; Session 2: auditory deprivation with picture cues and shoulder taps; Session 3: visual deprivation with verbal cues and shoulder taps
Conventional Balance Training (6 Weeks): Participants attended three supervised sessions per week. Each session included sitting, standing, weight-shifting, gait, and functional balance activities with progressive difficulty. Week 1: Sitting with legs uncrossed, stepping forward/backward/sideways, and ball control while sitting then standing. Week 2: Sitting with legs crossed, marching in place, and head rotations (up/down) during standing and walking. Week 3: Normal standing, reaching tasks in sitting and standing, and trunk rotations during sitting, standing, and walking. Week 4: Tandem stance, picking up objects from a table, stool, and floor, and walking forward, backward, and sideways. Weeks 5-6: Single-leg stance, standing on foam, and dual-task training, including standing while holding a ball over a book and catching a ball, to improve postural control, coordination, and functional balance.
Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan