EFFICACY OF DUAL TASK TRAINING ON BALANCE AND PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS AMONG ELDERLY WITH RISK OF FALLS - AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Background: As the aging population grows, the need for long-term care is rising. Older adults often experience declines in cognitive and functional abilities. This makes it harder to perform tasks requiring simultaneous mental and physical effort. Such challenges raise the risk of falls and reduce independence in daily life. Executive function, vital for managing complex tasks, is notably affected by aging. Dual-task training helps improve both cognitive and executive functions in the elderly. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of dual task exercises on balance and physical functions in elderly with risk of falls. Method: The study involved 62 randomly selected participants over the age of 65, based on inclusion criteria. Each received dual-task training three times a week for four weeks, with 45-minute sessions. Balance and fear of falling were assessed using the TUG and ABC-6 scales before and after the intervention. The results were recorded for comparison. Result: The difference between the pre and post test results in the experimental group for balance and physical function among elderly with risk of falls on ABC6 and TUG are deemed to be significant for Paired T-Test. Conclusion: It was found that Dual Task Training showed improvement in balance and physical function among elderly with risk of falls. ABC6 and TUG score can both be improved in elderly patients with fall risk using DTT as an addition to standard of care (moderate evidence). There should be more comprehensive research of the highest caliber. Keywords: Dual task training, Risk of falls, Elderly, Physical Function, Balance