effectiveness of the alexander technique and the feldenkrais technique for improving the body

137 Pages·2013·3.19 MB·English

International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research (IJSER)
ISSN 2229-5518
“EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ALEXANDER
TECHNIQUE AND THE FELDENKRAIS TECHNIQUE
FOR IMPROVING THE BODY BALANCE IN OLDER
ADULTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY”

A Dissertation
Submitted by
Ms. PATEL DHARA BIPINBHAI
(NU10MSPT06)
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF
PROF. MOHAMED FAISAL C. K.
To the

NITTE UNIVERSITY
(Estd under Section 3. UGC Act 1956)

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of
MASTER OF PHYSIOTHERAPY
(NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND PSYCHOSOMATIC DISEASES)

DEPARTMENT OF NEUROLOGICAL PHYSIOTHERAPY
NITTE INSTITUTE OF PHYSIOTHERAPY
DERALAKATTE, MANGALORE - 575018
March 2012
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CERTIFICATE

Certified that Ms. Patel Dhara Bipinbhai U. S. No. NU10MSPT06 of the Department of
Neurology and Psychosomatic Physiotherapy of Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy is a
bonafide student during the year 2010 to 2012 and has carried out this dissertation
entitled “EFFECTVENESS OF THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE AND THE
FELDENKRAIS TECHNIQUE FOR IMPROVING THE BODY BALANCE IN OLDER
ADULTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY” under my guidance.

Further certified that this work either in part or full has not been submitted to any other
University / Institute for the award of any Degree / Diploma.

PROF. MOHAMED FAISAL C. K., MPT
VICE PRINCIPAL

Countersigned

MR. PURUSOTHAM CHIPPALA, MPT
(HOD, DEPARTMENT OF NEUROLOGICAL
PHYSIOTHERAPY)

DR. H. RAVINDRANATH RAI, MBBS, D ORTHO, MS ORTHO
DIRTECTOR
NITTE INSTITUTE OF PHYSIOTHERAPY
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DECLARATION

I, Ms. PATEL DHARA BIPINBHAI (NU10MSPT06) hereby declare that the dissertation
work entitled “EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE AND THE
FELDENKRAIS TECHNIQUE FOR IMPROVING THE BODY BALANCE IN OLDER
ADULTS : A COMPARATIVE STUDY” is my original work and has been carried out
under the guidance of PROF.MOHAMED FAISAL. C. K, MPT, Department of
Neurological Physiotherapy, Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy, Mangalore and is
being submitted to the Nitte University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
award of master of Physiotherapy (Neurology and Psychosomatic Disorders).

I also hereby declare that this work in part or full has not been submitted to any other
University / Institution for any Degree / Diploma.

Date of submission:
Signature of the candidate
Ms. PATEL DHARA BIPINBHAI
(NU10MSPT06)

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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research (IJSER)
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Dedicated to:

My parents Mr. Bipinbhai K. Patel & Mrs.
Nitaben B. Patel, My sister Mrs.
Karishma C. Parikh, my brother in law
Mr. Chintan S. Parikh & my brother Mr.
Kaushal B. Patel.

Thank you for all your support, without it I
would have been nothing in my life.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My heartfelt gratitude to almighty God who has guided me this far and to
whom goes all the honor and glory for the successful completion of the study. I
express my heartfelt gratitude to my guru PRAMUKHSWAMI MAHARAJ without
his blessing I couldn’t have come this far.
I express my sincere gratitude to my father Mr. BIPINBAHI K. PATEL, my
mother MRS. NITABEN B.PATEL and my brother MR. KAUSHAL PATEL, my
sister MS. KARISHMA PATEL, and my brother in law MR. CHINTAN PARIKH
for their immense support and constant encouragement which has brought me to
the platform where I stand today.
I express my sincere thanks to my guide PROF.MOHAMED FAISAL. C. K,
MPT, VICE PRINCIPAL, NITTE Institute of Physiotherapy for his valuable
guidance and support throughout this study.
I wish to express my regards to Director Dr. H. RAVINDRANATH RAI for
all the facilities and support extended to me during this study.
I express my sincere gratitude to Mr. DHANESHKUMAR K.U. (Assoc Prof)
,Mr. PURUSOTHAM CHIPPALA (Asst Prof) HOD Dept of Neurological
Physiotherapy, Mr. AJITH S. (Asst Prof), Mr. AJAY THAKUR (Asst Prof),
Mr. SUBHASHCHANDRA RAI (Asst Prof) for suggestions and help they gave me
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during the course of this study.
I express my sincere thanks to our library staff Mrs. KALAVATHI and Mrs.
VEENA U. RAO for their support and assistance during the course of the study.
I shall fail my duties if I don’t acknowledge my friends Ms Maria Prem, Mr.
Ranjeet Prasher, Ms. Avdhi Amin for their suggestions and criticism while
assisting in this study.
I express my sincere gratitude to all my volunteers for their co operation in
making this study complete.
Acknowledgement would be incomplete without expressing my sincere
gratitude and thanks to my friends and family for all the support and assistance
they have extended to me at all the time without me having to ask for it.

Date:
Ms. PATEL DHARA BIPINBHAI
Mangalore:

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LIST OF ABBREVATIONS USED

COG: CENTER OF GRAVITY
BOS: BASE OF SUPPORT
ADL: ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING
COM: CENTER OF MASS
TUG: TIMED UP AND GO
BBS: BERG BALANCE SCALE
FRT: FUNCTIONAL REACH TEST
M: MALE
F: FEMALE
&: AND
<: LESS THAN
>: MORE THAN

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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research (IJSER)
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ABSTRACT

“EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE AND THE FELDENKRAIS
TECHNIQUE FOR IMPROVING THE BODY BALANCE IN OLDER ADULTS:
A COMPARATIVE STUDY”

PATEL DHARA BIPINBHAI, PROF. MOHAMED FAISAL C. K., NITTE INSTITUTE OF
PHYSIOTHERAPY, MANGALORE, KARNATAKA.

BACKGROUND: The balance is the important factor which will help the individual to
perform the ADL without any problem. The literature review suggested that any type of
balance exercises in the older adults will help the individuals to improve the balance and
reduce the fall. There are studies available which says Feldenkrais methods of
exercises and Alexander methods of exercises will improve the balance in older adults,
but there is no study available which says which technique of exercises, i.e. Feldenkrais
technique or Alexander techniques, are effective to improve the balance in older adults.
By keeping this fact in view present study aims at evaluating the efficacy of Feldenkrais
technique and Alexander technique for improving the balance in the older adults.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of the Alexander technique and the
Feldenkrais technique for improving the body balance in older adults.

METHODOLOGY: After satisfying inclusion criteria the individuals were randomly
assigned to any of the three groups, group I, who received the Alexander methods of
exercises, group II, who receives the Feldenkrais methods of exercises & group III, who
receives only the conventional balance exercises to improve the balance. Each group
was consisting of 15 individuals each and received treatment for 5 days in a week for
one month. The balance was assessed before starting the treatment and after one
month by using Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Reach Test (FRT) in sitting and
standing & Timed Up and Go Test (TUG).

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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research (IJSER)
ISSN 2229-5518
RESULTS: Mann Whitney U test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test were the statistical
tools used for evaluating the results. At the end of one month all the three groups were
showing significant improvement in the balance. The inter group comparison between
group I and group III, group I showed better improvement with BBS (P = 0.001), but
there was not statistically significant improvement with FRT sitting (P = 0.273), with FRT
standing (P = 0.948), & with TUG (P = 0.394). The results suggested that the Alexander
method of exercises will improve the balance with BBS than conventional balance
exercises. The inter group comparison between group II and group III, group II showed
better improvement with BBS (P = 0.016) & with FRT standing (P = 0.015), but there
was not statistically significant improvement with FRT sitting (P = 0.231) & with TUG (P
= 0.164). The results suggested that the Feldenkrais method of exercises will improve
the balance with BBS and FRT standing than conventional balance exercises. The inter
group comparison between group I and group II, group II showed better improvement
with FRT standing (P = 0.019), but there was not statistically significant improvement
with BBS (P = 0.326), with FRT sitting (P = 0.097), & with TUG (P = 0.629). The results
suggested that improvement with only the FRT standing in Group II.

CONCLUSION: All the groups showed improvement at the end of one month of
intervention. The study suggested that all the groups have improvement in the balance
after one month of intervention, but still the study could not suggest that which method
of exercises improve the balance better than other method of exercises. So, the study
suggested that any kind of balance exercises for improving the balance helps the
individual in improving the balance.

KEY WORDS: Balance, Feldenkrais technique, Alexander technique, Berg Balance
Scale, Time Up and Go test, Functional Reach Test, Older Adults

IJSER © 2013
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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research (IJSER)
ISSN 2229-5518
TABLE OF CONTENTS

SL NO TITLE PAGE NO
1 INTRODUCTION 1
2 OBJECTIVES 10
3 REVIEW OF LITRATURE 12
4 MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY 16
5 DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS 76
6 DISCUSSION 100
7 CONCLUSION 108
8 BIBLIOGRAPHY 109
9 ANNEXURE 113

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