The effect of balance training on balance, physical activity and quality of life in people diagnosed with depression

Depressive symptoms; It causes an increased risk of falling and a decrease in physical functions. This research shows that balance training in people diagnosed with depression; It was planned to determine its effect on balance, physical activity and quality of life. 48 participants, 39 women and 9 men, aged between 18 and 60 years, were included in the study. Participants were divided into two groups by simple random method; balance training group (n=24) and control group (n=24), which met the inclusion criteria. In addition to their psychiatric treatment, balance exercises were applied to the balance training group (BTG) for 30-45 minutes, 3 days a week for 6 weeks. Participants in the control group (CG) did not receive any treatment other than psychiatric treatment. Participants were evaluated twice, at the beginning of their treatment and at the end of 6 weeks. For depression; Beck Depression Scale (BDI), for quality of life; Short Form 36 (SF-36), for static balance; Romberg Test and Flamingo Balance Test (FBT), for dynamic balance; Y Balance Test (YBT), Functional Reach Test (FRT), Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale (FAB-T), for physical activity; Ipaq Short Form, Pedometer and 6 Minute Walk Test were used. At the end of balance training; While an increase was detected in the FBT of BTG (p<0,05), there was no difference in CG (p>0,05). While an increase was detected in anterior, posteromedial and posterolateral reaches for both the right and left legs in the YBT measurement on BTG (p<0,05), no difference was detected for any reach on CG (p>0,05). While FRT increased in BTG (p<0,05), there was no difference in CG (p>0,05). While an increase with a large effect (d=1.12) was detected for FAB-T in BTG (p<0,05), an increase with a weak effect (d=0.34) was detected in CG (p<0,05). While an increase in physical activity average BTG was detected (p<0,05), there was no change in CG (p<0,05). While there was an improvement in all sub-parameters in the quality of life on BTG (p<0,05), there was an improvement in all parameters on CG except the pain parameter (p>0,05). When BTG and CG were compared in terms of quality of life, the improvement in BTG was higher than in CG (p<0,05). Our study shows that balance training in people diagnosed with depression; It showed that it has positive effects in terms of balance, physical activity and quality of life. Balance training applied as a physical approach in the treatment of depression; It can be considered as an easily accessible option that improves the balance function of the individual, increases the level of physical activity, improves the quality of life.