The Effect of Serng Isan Aerobic Exercise Program on Balance in Older People

Abstract

Introduction Balance is significant for the daily activities of older people. Applying the ‘Serng Isan’ technique, a traditional folk dance of the Northeastern Thailand, for their daily communitybased exercise is expected to improve the balance, reduce risks of accidents, and prevent falls. 

Objectives The objectives of this study were: 1) to compare the balance in older people before and after the program, and 2) to compare the balance in older people between the experimental group and the control group after participating in the program. 

Design A quasi-experimental design with two-group pretest-posttest 

Methodology According to power analysis, the sample included 36 female older adults, aged 60-75 years, who were purposively selected based on inclusion criteria. They were subsequently allocated randomly into either the experimental group or the control group, each comprising 18 participants. The control group engaged in their regular daily activities, while the experimental group participated in an 8-week ‘Serng Isan’ aerobic exercise program. This program was developed following the FITT principle (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type) established by the American Sports Medicine guidelines. The program entailed 3 sessions per week, with each session lasting 50 minutes. For data collection, record forms were employed to gather demographic data, and balance tests were administered. Content validity of the instrument was examined by experts, and inter-rater reliability of the balance test was evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, ranging from .89 to .98. Data analysis included a comparison of balance scores before and after the program within the experimental group, using Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. The comparison of balance scores between the control and experimental groups was conducted using Mann-Whitney U test. 

Results The mean age for participants in the experimental group was 61 years (SD = 5.18, min = 60, max = 65), while it was 62 years in the control group (SD = 3.78, min = 60, max = 66). All participants had normal weight, height, heart rate, and blood pressure. Following the eight-week program, the experimental group had statistically significant improvements in their balance, as assessed through Stork balance stand test, Timed up-and-go test, and Walking speed test (Z = -3.724, -3.291, -3.724, p<.001, respectively), compared to their scores before the program. The post-test average scores for all balance tests in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (Z = -5.004, -4.753, -5.096, p<.001, respectively). 

Recommendation The results indicate that the ‘Serng Isan’ aerobic exercise program effectively enhances the balance of female older adults. This program can be applied by healthcare teams for promoting physical exercise among older people in communities, thereby enhancing the capacity to provide physical health promotion services that align with Thai lifestyles and culture. Moreover, it encourages older people to engage in continuous community activities.