The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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    Improving balance and mobility using Feldenkrais exercises

    Feldenkrais method (Photo: Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, the developer) is an educational system designed to improve body movement and function. Its goal is to re-educate the nervous system and improve motor ability.

    Researchers at the University of South Carolina, in Columbia report their experience in older adults.

    First, the details.

    • 47 elderly adults were randomly assigned to a treatment group for 5 weeks.
      • Feldenkrais: 60 minutes 3 times per week
      • Wait list control
    • Changes in balance (tandem stance: 1 foot in front of the other), mobility (timed up and go), gait characteristics (GAITRite Walkway System), balance confidence (Balance Confidence Scale; ABC), and fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale) were measured.

    And, the results.

    • Balance and mobility increased significantly with Feldenkrais vs control.
    • Fear of falling decreased significantly with Feldenkrais vs control.
    • No other significant changes were observed, although the Feldenkrais group showed improved balance confidence and mobility while concurrently performing a cognitive task.

    The bottom line?

    The authors concluded, “Feldenkrais exercises… offer an alternative method to help offset age-related declines in mobility and reduce the risk of falling among community-dwelling older adults.”

    They also want further research to identify any effect of Feldenkrais exercises on cognitive processes.

    6/7/10 20:39 JR

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