Otago Exercise Program And Gaze Stability Exercise In Older Adults

Otago exercise program consisted of strengthening and balance exercises. The strengthening exercises focus on major lower limb muscles. Progression of exercises was done by increasing the duration and then intensity. Balance exercises involved knee bends, backward walking, walking, and turning around, sideways walking, tandem stance (heel to toe), tandem walk (heal to toe walk), one leg stand, heel walking, toe walk, heel to toe walking backward, sit to stand and stair walking. Balance exercises progressed with varying levels of support depending on their balance and confidence. The individuals repeated each exercise 10 times.

The exercise protocol in Gaze Stability exercises included adaptation exercises and substitution exercises. In adaptation exercises, individuals performed rapid, active head rotations while watched a visual target with the target remaining stationary. Substitution exercises, individual performed eye-head movements between targets with the goal of seeing clearly during the task. That target moved in the opposite direction of head movement. Adaptation exercises included: Horizontal and vertical (stationary target) viewing exercises done with a near target, sitting. Horizontal and vertical (stationary target) viewing exercises done with near and far targets (6-10 feet), sitting. Horizontal and vertical (stationary target) viewing exercises were done with near and far targets, standing.