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eCAM Advance Access published online on June 24, 2009
eCAM, doi:10.1093/ecam/nep055
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© 2009 The Author(s).
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/uk/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Feldenkrais Method Balance Classes Improve Balance in Older Adults: A Controlled Trial*

Karol A. Connors1,2, Mary P. Galea1,3 and Catherine M. Said1,3

1Rehabilitation Sciences Research Centre, School of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Parkville,2Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Caulfield South and 3Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Feldenkrais Method balance classes on balance and mobility in older adults. This was a prospective non-randomized controlled study with pre/post measures. The setting for this study was the general community. A convenience sample of 26 community-dwelling older adults (median age 75 years) attending Feldenkrais Method balance classes formed the Intervention group. Thirty-seven volunteers were recruited for the Control group (median age 76.5 years). A series of Feldenkrais Method balance classes (the ‘Getting Grounded Gracefully’ series), two classes per week for 10 weeks, were conducted. Main outcome measures were Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) questionnaire, Four Square Step Test (FSST), self- selected gait speed (using GAITRiteTM instrumented gait mat). At re-testing, the Intervention group showed significant improvement on all of the measures (ABC, P = 0.016, FSST, P = 0.001, gait speed, P < 0.001). The Control group improved significantly on one measure (FSST, P < 0.001). Compared to the Control group, the Intervention group made a significant improvement in their ABC score (P = 0.005), gait speed (P = 0.017) and FSST time (P = 0.022). These findings suggest that Feldenkrais Method balance classes may improve mobility and balance in older adults.

Keywords: aged – balance – exercise therapy

For reprints and all correspondence: Mary P. Galea, Rehabilitation Sciences Research Centre, School of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia. Tel: +61-3-8344-4171; Fax: +61-3-8344-4188; E-mail: m.galea{at}unimelb.edu.au

*This trial was registered on the NIH Clinical Trials website (www.clinicaltrials.gov). The trial identifier is NCT00222287 [ClinicalTrials.gov] .

Received September 25, 2008; accepted May 19, 2009


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