Search

Balance and Fall Prevention in Elderly · Master's Research in Kinésithérapy at HEPL (Belgium) by Gabriel Blais

Updated: Nov 4

Travail de fin d'etudes présenté en vue de l'obtention du grade de Master en Kinésithérapie by Gabriel Blais Année Académique 2024-25

Département Sciences de la Motricité

Haute Ecole de la Province de Liège

Gabriel Blais conducted outstanding research comparing traditional balance methods on flat surfaces with balance techniques using the T-BOW® in an unstable position, focusing on improving balance and preventing falls in older adults.

It is important to acknowledge Gabriel Blais's extraordinary research and dedication in delving into such a complex topic as balance and fall prevention.

The complete text of Gabriel Blais's master's thesis is available in the T-Bow Fit International digital technical documentation center.

An effective solution for fall prevention always requires a holistic and personalized approach.

In this document, we add proposals based on knowledge of human movement, practical experience and research.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION

Research by Ivan Chulvi-Medrano (2009) on a balance improvement program in older women ("A lower-limb training program to improve balance in healthy elderly women using the T-Bow® devide"):
ENGLISH: https://www.t-bow.net/post/a-lower-limb-training-program-to-improve-balance-in-healthy-elderly-women-using-the-t-bow?lang=en
ESPAÑOL: https://www.t-bow.net/post/entrenamiento-del-tren-inferior-para-el-equilibrio-en-mujeres-mayores-sanas-con-el-t-bow

In the T-Bow Fit International digital technical documentation center you can find other technical documents developed by Ivan Chulvi-Medrano et al. on the applicability of unstable platforms for health and sports performance.

Articles on optimizing health with the T-BOW® in elderly people (J Reverter-Masià, D Picó-Benet, D Ribera-Nebot).
ENGLISH: https://www.t-bow.net/post/health-in-the-elderly-with-t-bow?lang=en
ESPAÑOL: https://www.t-bow.net/post/salud-en-edad-avanzada-con-t-bow

Article by Adrienn Banhegyi on the optimization of throwing, catching and passing on the unstable T-BOW® in children.
ENGLISH: https://www.t-bow.net/post/throwing-catching-and-passing-on-unstable-t-bow?lang=en
ESPAÑOL: https://www.t-bow.net/post/lanzamientos-recepciones-y-pases-en-el-t-bow-inestable

Article by physiotherapist Gonzalo Cámara-Navarro on the applications of T-BOW® in movement physiotherapy.
ENGLISH: https://www.t-bow.net/post/t-bow-applications-in-physiotherapy?lang=en
ESPAÑOL: https://www.t-bow.net/post/aplicaciones-t-bow-en-fisioterapia

In addition, Gonzalo Cámara-Navarro has developed an 8-hour course on movement physiotherapy with the T-BOW® and a 4-hour seminar on injury prevention and movement rehabilitation with the T-BOW®.

https://www.t-bow.net/cursos

Document based on diagrams on the optimization of coordination in sports skills (D Ribera-Nebot), based on the work of Master Francisco Seirul·lo Vargas (http://www.entrenamientodeportivo.org).

ENGLISH: https://www.t-bow.net/post/coordination-and-balance-for-fitness-and-sport?lang=en

ESPAÑOL: https://www.t-bow.net/post/coordinaci%C3%B3n-y-equilibrio-para-el-fitness-y-el-deporte

PROPOSALS OF OPTIMIZATION

OF BALANCE AND FALL PREVENTION

---------------------------------------

What makes the Unstable T-BOW® Special for Balance and Coordination?

Arched design, reactivity, lightweight and single axis of instability promote rapid and precise postural adjustments and responsiveness.

Many alternatives to place de feet on concavity, narrow edges and convexity (double T-BOW®).

Barefoot and with sport shoes. Also with socks on the wooden version, which has narrower edges and its concavity has glass microspheres which extraordinarily enhances tactile sensitivity.

Balance and coordination challenges for a wide range of users and applicable to many daily and sport activities.

Placing the feet on the narrow edges of the T-BOW® requires bilateral ankle control, promoting leg verticality and excellent segmental independence, also making possible a functional screw connection of the leg's longitudinal axis in spiral dynamics.

Balancing on the T-BOW® is fun and gives wellbeing (like a mother's gentle sway of her baby).

Optimizing Balance and Coordination with the T-BOW® for Fall Prevention

Utilize all the balance and coordination options proposed above, which make the T-BOW® special in its unstable position.

Combine tennis balls with balloons and different types of balls, considering bilateral actions with two tennis balls simultaneously.

Combine all the unstable positions of the T-BOW® with its stable convexity, performing creative footwork exercises, integrating biomechanical and sensory variations.

Perform the exercises on different surfaces and terrains (inclined planes, river stones, tree trunks, wet and snowy ground, etc.), but ensuring they have a reactivity and roughness very similar to everyday and sports surfaces.

Optimize the integration of the central nervous system with reflexes; creating situations of interaction between unexpected events, rebalancing, decision-making, and anticipation-reaction at different times when stimuli appear.

Implement all options in pairs and small groups.

Create circuits or stations, alternating the selected balance and coordination exercises.

Apply the coordination and balance skills optimization resources related to movement control, spatial awareness, and time-rhythm coordination for a comprehensive and effective experience.

Integrate the coordination and balance options with cognitive priorities related to space-time and decision-making, as well as conditional, socio-affective, emotional-volitional, expressive-creative, and mental aspects for holistic optimization.

Optimize various falling techniques as a resource for continuous movement education and as a practical tool for daily life and sports.

Safety / Taking Care while Balancing on the Unstable T-BOW®

Avoid overloading the ankles and knees when lateral balancing on the T-BOW®. The arch and narrow edges will tend to bend ankles inwards and so the knees; that is why is crucial to place the foot properly on the edges and push the knees outwards, therefore, promoting a good postural structure adjustment in children, a relevant issue in the development years. For smaller children or children with very short legs, the mid lateral balance by placing one foot in the middle of the T-BOW® and the other on one edge can be a good alternative.

Practicing barefoot is a very enriching experience for children, but it is also important to practice with sport shoes that have good grip and are not too soft.
Alternate the concavity, the narrow edges and the convexity of the T-BOW® with the flat floor.
For more acrobatics and challenging options, consider hooking a strip of sandpaper on the side edges for extra grip. This is not necessary on the Wood T-BOW®.

T-BOW® for Movement Education

The T-BOW® is ideal for movement education, creating highly responsive balance and rebalancing scenarios with a wide range of foot positions. It enhances swings, jumps, and turns using different body parts and postures, static and dynamic balance on concave, convex, and narrow-edged surfaces, and coordination tasks such as passing, throwing, catching, dribbling, striking, object manipulation, and actions with T-Bands.

Throwing, catching, passing, ball passing, balance, coordination, T-BOW®, tennis ball, physical education, group fitness for adults, fall prevention, movement education, games for children and adults.

------------------------------------------------