A Quasi-Experimental Study Examining the Effects of a Proprioceptive Rehabilitation Protocol for the Cervical Spine on Balance and Function Using a Laser Head Light in Older Community Dwelling Individuals

Purpose: Falls continue to be a major health issue when considering health risks for older individuals. The multi-factorial nature of falls in older adults leads to an overwhelming number of causal factors. Cervical joint position sense and joint position error could be additional factors that could influence the fall risk of older individuals. This research examined the effects of a proprioceptive rehabilitation protocol for the cervical spine using a laser head set in older community dwelling individuals. Methods: Sixty (60) subjects were purposively assigned into an experimental and a control group. Control group subjects were given a general lower extremity strengthening home exercise program (HEP) to adhere to for eight weeks. Experimental group subjects were given the same 8-week lower extremity HEP along with a defined cervical proprioceptive protocol utilizing a laser head light. All subjects were pre-tested and post-tested on several impairment and functional level measures. Results: Data analysis indicated moderate to excellent reliability of the laser head-set tool utilized to measure cervical joint position error. The ICC values for six of the eight positions ranged from 0.700 (p = .016) to 0.953 (p < 0.001). Cervical joint position error decreased more significantly in the experimental group indicating increased cervical joint position sense. Post change cervical joint position error score differences between groups indicated a significant difference in improvement in six of the eight test positions. F values drawn from these positions ranged from 8.825 (p = .004) to 29.991 (p < .001). Significant between group post change improvement was also observed on gait speed measures, F = 19.053 (p < .001) and timed up and go measures, F = 5.809 (p = .019). Additional analysis revealed significant post change score differences between groups for improved Berg balance scale scores U = 208.500 (p = .002) and improved falls efficacy scale scoring U = 264.500 (p = .024). Conclusions: The findings have the potential to enable an additional training modality to effect fall risk in older community dwelling adults who are displaying imbalance issues.