COMPARISON OF THE EFFECT OF MINDFULNESS EXERCISES AND PETTLEP MENTAL IMAGERY ON THE BALANCE AND CONTINUOUS ATTENTION OF ELDERLY WOMEN

Elderly is a sensitive period of human life and paying attention to their movement and cognitive needs is a necessity. The aim of the current research was to compare the effect of mindfulness exercises and PETTLEP mental imagery on the balance and continuous attention of elderly women.

The present research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test design. The statistical population of the present study was the elderly of Yazd city, Iran, and the statistical sample included 45 elderly women with the age range of 60-75 years in a targeted and accessible manner, who were randomly assigned to three groups of mindfulness (15 people), PETTLEP mental imagery (15 people), and control (15 people) groups. First, a pre-test was performed for all three groups and then, the experimental groups trained according to the protocol for eight weeks and three sessions per week. At the end of the exercises, a post-test was taken from all three groups.

The results of analysis of variance and post hoc Bonferroni test showed that there was no significant difference between the mindfulness group and PETTLEP's mental imagery in static balance (P=0.001), but there was a significant difference between the control group with mindfulness (P=0.001) and with PETTLEP visualization (P=0.001). Also, there was a significant difference between the mindfulness group and PETTLEP mental imagery (P = 0.001), the control group with mindfulness (P = 0.03), and the control group with PETTLEP imagery in dynamic balance (P = 0.001). Also, there was no significant difference in the correct answer between the mindfulness-awareness group and the PETTLEP mental imagery group (P = 0.001). However, there was a significant difference between the control group with mindfulness (P=0.001) and the control group with PETTLEP visualization (P=0.001).

In general, the results of this research showed that the intervention based on mindfulness and mental imagery of PETTLEP has a significant effect on the movement functions of elderly women. Also, compared to the control group, the experimental groups had a significant improvement in static and dynamic balance factors of continuous attention. According to the results of the research, it is suggested to trainers and those involved in geriatric affairs to use mindfulness and visualization exercises to improve balance and attention in old age.