Effect of Qigong Exercise on Balance in Healthy Elderly

Abstract

Introduction: The elderly experience various decline in life and cause a decrease in body's functional balance. Thus will affect the quality of life. Balance can be measured using various assessment instruments, one of them is the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Qigong exercise is not widely known or well known among the elderly in Indonesia, in fact it has many benefits and is suitable for them. This study wanted to prove the effect of Qigong exercise on improving functional balance in elderly. Methods: This study is a randomized controlled trial with pre and post test controlled group design. The sampling method is using consecutive sampling method. The sample was 20 people and divided into intervention group (n=10 people) and control group (n=10 people). Participants in the intervention group performed Qigong exercises 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The control group received common elderly exercise 3 times a week. Balance was measured before and after the intervention using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Results: There was an increase in BBS scores before and after treatment in the elderly exercise group (p=0.003), and in the Qigong group (p=0.004). The Berg Balance Scale value in the control group (44.30±0.68) was higher than the Qigong group (44.18±0.60) at the beginning of the study but the difference was not significant (p=0.632). The Berg Balance Scale value in the control group (46.60±0.84) was lower than the Qigong group (48.45±1.13) at the end of the study and the difference was significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Qigong exercise improves balance better than the elderly exercise.