Clinical markers of the intensity of balance challenge: Observational study of older adult responses to balance tasks

Abstract

Background. Effective balance rehabilitation is critically important to the aging population. Optimal exercise prescription for balance rehabilitation has not been described, as there is no measure of balance exercise intensity. To rate the intensity of balance exercise, an item set is required. Objectives. The aim of this study was to explore verbal and nonverbal markers that differentiated tasks of high, medium, and low balance intensity to inform the development of an instrument to measure the intensity of balance challenge. Design. This was an observational study utilizing an interpretive description approach. Methods. Twenty older adults were observed performing 3 balance tasks that cha..