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by Debra M. Osorio, PT
The
stability ball holds an important place in the world
of balance training for older adults. Certified
FallProof Balance and Mobility Instructors, trained
to work with seniors in the area of balance and
mobility, know the important difference and
significance of sitting on a stability ball vs.
sitting on a chair.
To understand those differences, let’s take a look
at how we maintain our upright posture. We know that
there are three sensory systems that help us to
control our balance. People use their eyes (visual
system), the pressure receptors in the skin and
joint position receptors (somatosensory system), and
the hair cells in the inner ears (vestibular system)
to sense their position in space. Once we sense our
position in space, our muscular system can contract
or relax the appropriate muscles to keep us upright.
As we get older, the information that we take in
through the sense organs just mentioned is of lower
quality and lesser quantity than when we were
younger. And, the muscular system has also changed
so that contractions might be slower, weaker, and
sometimes inappropriate.
A new program called FallProof™ uses a
multidimensional approach to improve balance in
older adults. This program, developed by Dr. Debra
Rose at the Center for Successful Aging, California
State University, Fullerton, differs from other
group exercise programs because participants fill
out an extensive Health/Activity Questionnaire and
undergo pre-and post-class assessments. The
stability ball is an important piece of equipment
used by the Certified FallProof™ Balance and
Mobility Instructors.
So, let us again ask, what is the difference between
sitting on a chair and sitting on a stability ball?
Sitting on a firm surface, a chair, allows us to get
good “stable” information from the surface we are
sitting on. When we sit on a stability ball, an
unstable surface, a surface where the information we
get is constantly changing, our somatosensory system
is at a disadvantage. Once a sensory system (in this
case the somatosensory system) is at a disadvantage,
it forces the other sensory systems to have to work
harder, be challenged more, to keep us upright. So,
sitting on a stability ball can be used to force the
visual system to work harder.
Sitting on the stability ball along with the feet
being placed on a moving or compliant surface
increases the challenge to the visual system even
more. For an even greater challenge an individual
might be asked to sit on a stability ball, put their
feet on a foam surface or tilt board, and close
their eyes. This leaves only one of the three
systems, the vestibular system, as the main system
to take in sensory information. Less information to
the brain can lead to poorer selection of
appropriate muscles to contract, leading to loss of
balance if the challenge to the remaining system is
too great. If the challenge is appropriate, a
training effect can result.
As challenge is key to obtaining a training effect,
the stability ball is one tool which provides that
challenge. While sitting on a ball, the challenge
can be manipulated by the trained instructor. Class
participants might be asked to move their arms,
legs, or trunk, place their hands in various
positions, place their feet on various surfaces,
distract or eliminate their vision. The instructor,
knowing each participants limitations and specific
needs, can find the appropriate level of challenge
for each participant.
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