The Effect of Feldenkrais Lessons on Walking and Balance

University of Melbourne

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 1

Conditions: Accidental Falls; Exercise

Treatments: Behavioral: Feldenkrais Movement class

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00222287

HREC No. 040730

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a series of Feldenkrais movement lessons on mobility and balance, particularly for older adults. The investigators hypothesise that mobility and balance will improve following the classes.

Full description

The Feldenkrais Method is an educational process which involves exploration of novel movement sequences that lead to expansion of the movement repertoire. This Method has been used with the aim of improving balance and mobility in several studies, and has been compared to the benefits of Tai Chi for improving balance in older adults. The current study investigates the effects of a 10 week series of Feldenkrais movement classes on gait parameters as measured on an instrumented gait mat, a balance test of stepping and turning (the Four Square Step Test) and a questionnaire about balance confidence (the Activites Specific Balance Confidence scale.

Sex: All

Ages: 65 to 90 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• community dwelling older adults (aged over 65)
• able to independently ambulate indoors and outdoors

Exclusion criteria

• currently undergoing physiotherapy treatment
• unable to comprehend written english
• unable to give informed consent
• walking with a walking frame indoors

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind