The Effects of Plantar Sensory Based Physiotherapy Interventions on Balance and Fallings of Nursing Home Elderly

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Aging in all living things is defined as a normal physiological process that causes a decrease in realistic body function. According to the World Health Organization; It is classified as 65 years old and older and 85 years old and older (1). Characteristics of aging; decrease in reserve capacity of organ systems, decrease in homeostatic control, decrease in adaptability to environmental factors, decrease in stress response capacity (3). Stability is defined as postural stimulation against changes in the center of gravity during rest and activity. Postural answers that provide this harmony; vestibular, proprioceptive and visual data in the central nervous system. In older people, static balance can be maintained for a longer period of time, while dynamic balance may deteriorate more quickly. Aging-affected muscle strength, joint mobility, proprioceptive, vestibular and visual loss also make postural control difficult to achieve. Although the physiological mechanism underlying the risk of loss of equilibrium and falls is multifaceted, it is mostly caused by somatosensory sensitivity and decreased neuromuscular capacity (3-5). It has been determined that one third of the elderly individuals living in the society have fallen at least once a year and these rates have been stated to increase to 60% in nursing homes. Falls cause long-term disability, stay in nursing homes, in the absence of a serious injury as a result of falling, there is a fear of falling, which causes a limitation in activities of daily living. Due to the physiology of aging, it is stated that peripheral sensation decreases in older ages (12). Mold showed that bilateral somatosensorial disorder was present in approximately 26% of individuals aged 65-74, 36% of those aged 75-84, and 54% of those aged 85 years (13). In the literature, it was reported that plantar sensory loss in the elderly affects balance, mobility and gait and is a risk factor for falls (14). Different senses can be sensed by sensing receptors during the exercise program to increase sensory perception. Aerobic and strengthening exercise, feedback, virtual reality have been used in the studies on balance and falling seen in the elderly in recent years. However, a program aimed at increasing plantar sensation and it has not been found in the literature. In this study, physiotherapy programs aimed at increasing plantar sensation in the elderly will be compared.

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