Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this research is to determine if balance can be improved in older adults from exercising at home using a novel piece of exercise equipment called the "Balance T". METHOD: Fifty older adults (77.9 ± 6.7 years old) participated in a four-week home exercise, open-label clinical pilot study investigating ability to improve balance using the Balance T device. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Timed Up and Go (TUG), Clinical Test of the Sensory Interaction on Balance (CTSIB), Balance T Change Score (BTCS), and a user-opinion survey. Statistical analyses comprised parametric and non-parametric tests for pre-post exercise comparisons as well as evaluated balance differences across frailty status using established frailty-defining criteria. RESULTS: Frail participants at-risk for falls exhibited greater improvement in balance confidence compared to robust participants, with a mean change of 5.28 ± 12.9 (p < 0.001). In addition, each performance variable of balance showed clinically significant and meaningful changes after completing the Balance T exercise program. Participants reported the Balance T device as easy and safe to use with benefits gained at improving their balance. CONCLUSION: The Balance T device proved feasible for home use, showing preliminary evidence of improved balance performance and confidence, particularly among frail adults.