The effects of lumbar stabilization exercises on foot pressure of older individuals while walking

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of lumbar stabilization on pressure distribution in old women. [Subjects] The subjects of this study were 14 women aged 65 or older who agreed to participate in this study. They had a sufficient range of motion and muscle strength to perform the postures in this study’s program and were without gait problems, congenital deformity, orthopedic disorder, or neurological disorder. [Methods] The participants performed a group exercise program that promotes lumbar stabilization for 50 minutes per session by following the instructions of a physical therapist. Gait Analyzer was used to measure the foot pressure of individual participants from three measurements for each lumbar stabilization exercise, and the mean values were used. The mean values were then compared between before and after the exercises by paired t-test. [Results] Pressure in F3 and F6 statistically significantly decreased from 2.06±1.23% N/cm(2) to 1.55±1.02% N/cm(2) and from 7.40±1.52% N/cm(2) to 5.95±1.76% N/cm(2), respectively, after the intervention, but no significant differences were found in the other foot areas. [Conclusion] The lumbar stabilization exercises affected the pressure evenly over the entire foot and, in particular, in the inner area of the forefoot.