The Comparison of the Effectiveness of Neurofeedback Training and Training Environment Affordance on Static Balance in Men Living in Nursing Homes

Balance ability is a crucial component of the independent daily activities among older adults. Balance impairment is one of the significant risk factors for falls and its related complications. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to compare the effectiveness of neurofeedback training and training environment affordance on static balance in the elderly ‎men. This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population of the present study included the elderly men with an age range of 60 to 80 years living in nursing homes in Ilam, Iran, among whom 36 participants were selected using convenience sampling along with considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and assigned into three groups of neurofeedback, training environment affordance and control, each of which had 12 members. Participants performed a static balance task in three attempts in the pretest phase. In the intervention phase (practice), which lasted for eight weeks and included three 30-minute sessions per week, the member of two experimental groups performed the relevant exercises. It should be noted that during this period, the control group performed their usual daily activities. The posttest phase was conducted exactly after the last training session. Data were analyzed by univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), the results of which indicated that neurofeedback training has a significant effect on improving static balance (anterior-posterior displacement and central-lateral displacement of the center of pressure) in the elderly men (P<0.01). Besides, training environment affordance had a significant effect on improving static balance (anterior-posterior displacement and central-lateral displacement of the center of pressure) in the elderly men (P<0.01). The results of LSD post-hoc test revealed that compared to neurofeedback training, training environment affordance had greater effect on improving static balance in the elderly men (P<0.01). According to the results of the present study, educators and geriatricians are recommended to pay attention to enriching the environment in order to improve the balance of the elderly.