Table 1.
Detail | HiBalance, intervention group | HiCommunication, control group |
---|---|---|
Setting | Exercise hall | Room for group treatment |
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Personnel | Two physical therapists | One speech and language pathologist |
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Position performed | Standing and walking | Sitting |
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Core areas | (i) Sensory integration | (i) Voice intensity |
(ii) Anticipatory postural adjustments | (ii) Articulatory precision | |
(iii) Motor agility | (iii) Word retrieval | |
(iv) Stability limits | (iv) Memory | |
| ||
Block A, weeks 1-2 | Learning exercises, focus on quality. Single-task performance of exercises pertaining to each core area | Learning exercises, improving speech technique by practicing breathing, phonation, articulation, and increased vocal loudness while maintaining good voice quality |
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Block B, weeks 3–6 | Increased difficulty of exercises by adding cognitive and motor dual tasks | Increased difficulty of exercises by, for example, using memory games and association tasks to increase cognitive load during speech exercises |
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Block C, weeks 7–10 | Complexity increased by combining exercises from all four focus areas and by switching between cognitive and motor dual tasks | Complexity increased by increasing difficulty of memory games, incorporating more interaction between participants, and by adding background noise |
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Home exercise program, performed once a week | Aerobic capacity (e.g., walking or exercise bike) Leg and core strength exercises |
Relaxation and breathing exercises Voice and speech exercises Word and memory exercises |