1. IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF THAI MASSAGE ON GAIT SPEEDS AND BALANCE PARAMETERS IN ELDERLY
- Author
-
Chakkrit Samranrom, Wichai Eungpinichpong, and Nutthanun Tatchananusorn
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,Thai massage ,Environmental Engineering ,Flexibility (anatomy) ,business.industry ,Soil Science ,Building and Construction ,Stride length ,Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology ,Gait cycle ,Trunk ,law.invention ,Physical medicine and rehabilitation ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Gait (human) ,Randomized controlled trial ,law ,medicine ,business ,Balance (ability) - Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the immediate effects of Thai massage on gait parameters, balance performance, and trunk flexibility in elderly aged 60-80 years. A randomized control trial was used. Sixteen elderly participants (12 females and 4 males) participated. They were divided into a Thai massage group and a control group. Participants in Thai massage group received 1-hour whole body Thai massage while those in the control group were assigned to rest for one-hour. Changes in all parameters after receiving each of the sessions were compared by independent T-test. Within-group comparisons were analyzed by dependent t-test. Significantly differences were found for within-group comparison in right gait cycle duration of maximal gait speed (0.0023 s; p-value = 0.0023), single leg stance of left leg with open eye (15.17 s.; p-value = 0.034), and close eye conditions (2.3 s.; p-value = 0.022), and right leg with open eye (12.41 s.; p-value = 0.0294) and close eye conditions (4.06 s.; p-value = 0.0087), and trunk flexibility (2.14 cm.; p-value = 0.0003). However, there are little improvement of gait speed, stride length, gait cycle duration, cadences, and time-up-and-go test. We concluded that one session of Thai massage could provide immediate improvement in some gait parameters, balance performances, and body flexibility.
- Published
- 2020