Date of Graduation

2005

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

Committee Chair

Michelle A. Sandrey

Abstract

Inherent feedforward and feedback reactions to falls diminish with age and changes in daily acitivity making injuries more likely with falling. Research on the wrist and proprioceptive exercises for stability during falls is lacking. The purpose of this study was to determine if wrist proprioceptive training could enhance neuromuscular control aiding in wrist stability when falling. This was a 2 x 3 factorial design. Thirty healthy subjects free of upper extremity injuries were randomly assigned to one of three groups. The groups were tested on a Biodex Stability System over four levels as a pre and posttest. Between testing subjects performed six weeks of proprioceptive exercises. Significant main effects were found for medial/lateral stability for time (F1,30 =12.986, P=.001, ES=.325, ß=.847), and overall stability for time (F1,30 =18.70, P=.001, ES=.409, ß=.956), group (F1,30 = 6.295, P=.009, ES=.318, ß=.724), and the interaction of group by time. The open kinetic chain noted significant differences from the control group (p=.001 for group and p=.000 for time) . Therefore, open kinetic chain proprioceptive exercises were affective in integrating new neuromuscular patterns necessary to increase the stability of the wrist for a forward fall.

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