Getting Grounded Gracefully: the effect of Feldenkrais lessons on walking and balance

Investigators: Ms Karol Connors, Prof Mary Galea, Dr Cathy Said

Falls in the elderly commonly result in injuries. Various interventions have attempted to prevent falls by improving balance. Preliminary studies have shown the Feldenkrais Method, which uses an exploratory learning approach to improve functional movement, may be a useful intervention. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of Feldenkrais movement classes on balance in community dwelling older adults.

Eighteen older adults (mean age 76 years) were measured before and after a series of group classes run by a Community Health Centre, as part of a falls prevention program. A Feldenkrais practitioner conducted twenty classes, over a 10 week period. The classes were specifically designed for falls prevention and addressed sitting balance, sit to stand, standing balance, ankle mobility, spatial awareness, body awareness, gaze control, head and trunk mobility. Measurements were made of balance (four square step test), balance confidence (Activity related Balance Confidence (ABC) Questionnaire) and gait (Gait Rite instrumented gait analyser).

There was a trend towards improvement on all measures. Mean speed of the four square step test decreased from 14.3 sec to 12.2 sec (15 % improvement). Scores on the ABC questionnaire improved from 70.5 to 79.8 (13% improvement). These changes were not significant. Gait speed increased significantly from 104.5 sec to 115.4 sec (10.5 %) (p = 0.036). The improvement in gait speed was due to an increase in both cadence and step length.

Feldenkrais Method classes have a positive effect on balance, gait and balance confidence. Further investigations are continuing.

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