Faculty Publications

Home-Based Balance Pilot Intervention For Adults With Visual Impairments

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Balance, gait, home-based intervention, older adults, quality of life, self-efficacy of falls, visual impairment, well-being

Journal/Book/Conference Title

British Journal of Visual Impairment

Abstract

Older adults with visual impairments face many barriers to being physically active in their communities, which include their risk of suffering serious falls due to poor balance. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a home-based intervention upon gait, balance, and well-being with older adults with visual impairments. A total of 17 adults with visual impairments above the age of 55 participated and were placed into either the experimental or the control group. All participants were assessed on well-being, balance, and gait. Experimental group participants attended balance workshops and received exercise equipment and a balance intervention manual. Following eight weeks, both groups were tested, and the experimental group was reassessed five months following the intervention. Four separate 2 × 2 mixed model analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to test for significant main effects and interactions related to their baseline and posttest scores for the four tests completed. Both groups improved their gait (p =.006). Although not significant, the experimental group improved across the tests, and maintained their balance abilities scores 5 months after the intervention was delivered. A home-based exercise program can be an effective means for improving balance and gait in older adults with visual impairments.

Original Publication Date

1-1-2020

DOI of published version

10.1177/0264619620935937

Repository

UNI ScholarWorks, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa

Language

en

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