| The Effects of Cerebellar Tdcs and Biofeedback Training on Balance and Fear of Falling in Elderly Individuals With Orthostatic Hypotension |
| Paper ID : 1647-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
|
Javad Beheshti *1, حمید طباطبایی2 1دبیر ورزش، مدارس دانشگاه اصفهان 2استادیار، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد تهران جنوب |
| Abstract |
| Introduction: Orthostatic hypotension is a condition common among older adults, primarily due to age-related physiological changes such as autonomic nervous system dysfunction and arterial stiffness (Palma et al., 2020). These symptoms increase the risk of falls, which in turn may lead to a reduction in daily activities due to fear of falling (McDonald et al., 2017). Although cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) appears to be an effective approach for improving balance in older adults, no study has yet compared the effects of cerebellar tDCS and biofeedback training on balance and fear of falling in elderly individuals with orthostatic hypotension. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study with a pretest–posttest design, 45 elderly men aged 60 to 80 years with orthostatic hypotension from Isfahan were purposefully selected based on inclusion criteria and assigned to three groups: biofeedback training (n=15), cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) (n=15), and control (n=15). During the pretest and posttest phases, participants performed a balance test (standing on a force plate) and completed the Falls Efficacy Scale questionnaire. The intervention lasted twelve weeks, with two 20-minute sessions per week, during which participants performed the prescribed exercises. Meanwhile, the control group continued their usual daily activities. Results: The results of the covariance analysis showed that cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation led to greater improvements in balance and reductions in fear of falling compared to biofeedback training among elderly individuals with orthostatic hypotension (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on these findings, cerebellar tDCS, as an effective and innovative rehabilitation approach, has great potential to improve the quality of life in elderly individuals with orthostatic hypotension and can be used as a complementary or alternative intervention in balance and fall-prevention rehabilitation programs. |
| Keywords |
| Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Biofeedback Training, Balance, Fear of Falling, Elderly, Orthostatic Hypotension |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
