Effect of the Auricular Acupoint Associated with Physical Exercise in Elderly People: A Randomized Clinical Test

Objective: To analyze the effect of auricular acupoint associated with physical exercise on balance, mobility, and fear of falling in the elderly. Method: The study is characterized as a clinical, controlled, and randomized trial with 22 elderly people divided into two groups: kinesiotherapy group (...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rogéria Gonçalves de Carvalho Fonseca, Andréia Maria Silva, Luiza Faria Teixeira, Valéria Regina Silva, Luciana Maria dos Reis, Adriana Teresa Silva Santos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical Association of Pharmacopuncture Institute 2018-08-01
Series:Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2005290118300116
Description
Summary:Objective: To analyze the effect of auricular acupoint associated with physical exercise on balance, mobility, and fear of falling in the elderly. Method: The study is characterized as a clinical, controlled, and randomized trial with 22 elderly people divided into two groups: kinesiotherapy group (n = 11) and kinesiotherapy/auriculotherapy group (n = 11). The instruments used for evaluation were Falls Efficacy Scale International; Berg Balance Scale, and Timed up and Go Test. The intervention was performed with frequency 2×/week for 8 weeks. In the kinesiotherapy/auriculotherapy group, in addition to kinesiotherapy, auriculotherapy was applied in specific acupoints. The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to determine the normality of the data, and for comparison, analysis of variance was used for repeated measures of two factors. Results: There was a significant intragroup reduction for the Timed up and Go Test (p = 0.00) and Falls Efficacy Scale International (p = 0.00), and significant intragroup Berg Balance Scale (p = 0.00) for both groups. Conclusion: The auricular acupoint did not influence the balance, mobility, and fear of falling in the elderly studied. Keywords: aging, auriculotherapy, balance, elderly, falls, rehabilitation
ISSN:2005-2901