MASSAGE AND MOBILIZATION OF THE FEET AND ANKLES IN ELDERLY ADULTS: EFFECT ON CLINICAL BALANCE PERFORMANCE

International audienceThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a session of plantar massage and joint mobilization of the feet and ankles on clinical balance performance in elderly people. A randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial was used to examine the immediate effects of manual massage and mobilization of the feet and ankles. Twenty-eight subjects, aged from 65 to 95 years (78.8±8.5 years - mean±SD) were recruited from community nursing homes. Main outcome measures were the performances in three tests: One Leg Balance (OLB) test, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Lateral Reach (LR) test. Results demonstrated a significant improvement after massage and mobilization compared with placebo for the OLB test (1.1±1.7 seconds versus 0.4±1.2 seconds, p<0.01) and the TUG test (0.92.6 seconds versus 0.21.2 seconds, p