Training with lateral stepping improves clinical balance tests in older adults

Interventions to prevent falls have been a major focus of research in recent years. We propose that older adults can improve performance in common clinical measures of balance by performing a lateral stepping training. Fourteen older adults aged 65+ underwent a six-week lateral stepping training 3-days/week. Performance in common clinical balance tests (TUG, FES-I, SOT), and walking speed was measured before, after completion of the training, and six weeks following completion. The lateral stepping training improved older adults’ performance in the clinical tests of balance and speed, and the effects were retained for six weeks after the completion of the intervention. These results demonstrated the feasibility of the training to improve balance in older adults