Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of horse-riding simulator (HRS) exercise on balance control ability and gait in the  elderly with dementia.

Material and Methods: This study was conducted on people aged 65 years or older living in D city (Korea) enrolled in the day care center with a diagnosis of dementia as documented by the Korean Ministry of Health andWelfare. The control group performed the same exercise therapy previously performed at the center for 30 minutes (per session), and the experimental group performed the conventional intervention (15 minutes per session) and HRS exercise (15 minutes per session). In both groups, intervention was performed 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Functional reach test (FRT), timed up-and-go (TUG), 10  Meter Walk Test (10MWT), and Short Form Berg Balance Scale (SFBBS) tests were used measured to evaluate balance control ability and gait ability before and after intervention to confirm its effect.

Results: Pre-intervention no intergroup differences were found between FRT, TUG, 10MWT, or SFBBS results. (p > 0.05). However, post-intervention comparison, the experimental group had significantly better FRT, TUG, 10MWT, and SFBBS results (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: We found HRS exercise and exercise therapy improved balance control ability and gait speed, and that HRS exercise produced better results than convention exercise.