The Effects of Body Percussion Exercise on Balance in Older Adults

Introduction: One of the most complex  problems  of elders  is the balance  problem  and  the increased risk of falling. Body percussion is an effective treatment for various diseases with cognitive, physical, and psychological deficits and improves the memory, motor, and coordination skills, as well as the social interaction of patients with neurological diseases. One of the problems in the elderly is the weakness in balance skills and falling. This study aimed to investigate the effect of body percussion exercises (BPE) on the balance of the elderly. 
Materials and Methods: This study was carried out as pretest-posttest research with two experimental and control groups. A 12-session therapeutic program  was  implemented  3 days a week each for 45-60 minutes. The subjects were evaluated using the Berg balance scale, functional reach, and timed up and go (TUG) tests. Data were analyzed by paired and independent t tests. 
Results: The results of the treatment group showed a significant effect of BPE on the balance (P<0.005). A comparison of post-treatment results showed that the Berg balance scale (P=0.00), and timed up and go (P=0.023) were significantly different. The functional reach test (P=0.174) was not significantly different. 
Conclusion: This study showed that BPE had a significant effect on the elderly`s balance.