DYNAMIC BALANCE TRAINING IMPROVES DYNAMIC BUT NOT STATIC BALANCE IN OLDER ADULTS. James W. Bellew*; Paula Click-Fenter; Bryan Chelette; Rebecca Moore; Daniel Loreno Physical Therapy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA PURPOSE: To examine the effect of dynamic balance training on static and dynamic balance. BACKGROUNDS/SIGNIFICANCE: Balance training is routinely used to attenuate age-related changes in balance, however, efficacy for these programs is questionable SUBJECTS: Eleven women (75.6±6.4 years) participated in training and ten women (71.2±9.1 years) served as controls. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Training was performed biweekly for five weeks. Subjects stood bilaterally upon semi-compressible foam rollers which permitted simultaneous motions in the sagittal (plantar-/dorsiflexion) and frontal planes (ankle inversion/eversion). The protocol involved alternating periods of ankle plantar-/dorsiflexion and supination/pronation while standing on the rollers. Static balance was measured using the single-limb-stance-time-test (SLSTT) assessing the time (seconds) a subject could remain standing on the dominant limb. Dynamic balance was measured using the Lower Extremity Reach Test (LERT), a test assessing the linear distance (inches) the non-dominant leg could be extended away from the body while maintaining balance on the dominant limb, and the Functional Reach Test, assessed in the forward and lateral directions yielding functional reach forward (FRF), right (FRR), and left (FRL). ANALYSES: Paired samples t-tests were used to examine change over time in each group. Because Functional Reach had 3 directions, Bonferonni correction for multiple t-tests were used. RESULTS: A significant (p<.014) average improvement of 22% was noted in dynamic balance tests in the exercise group with no change in static balance in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic balance training resulted in improved performance in dynamic balance but not static. FUNDING SOURCE: Equipment provided by Springboard Orthopedics, Mt. Sterling, KY ($250 value). KEYWORDS: proprioception, balance, aging Copyright 2009 by the American Physical Therapy Association. Requests for reprints should be directed to the corresponding author of the article. Educators, students, and other academic customers may receive permission to reprint copyrighted material from Physical Therapy (ISSN 1538-6724) by contacting the Copyright Clearance Center Inc, 222 Rosewood Dr, Danvers, MA 01923. Other types of customers who want permission to reprint should contact the APTA Editorial Office, Attn: Physical Therapy.