Effectiveness of Group Versus Individual Physiotherapy on Psychological Well-Being among Sedentary Older Women: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background: Aging is associated with reduced physical activity, social isolation, and a decline in psychological well-being. Structured physiotherapy interventions such as group and individual therapy may enhance general well-being in elderly populations.
Objective: To evaluate and compare the effects of group and individual physiotherapy interventions on general well-being in community-dwelling elderly women.
Methods: In this randomized comparative study, 30 sedentary women aged 60 to 75 years were allocated to group therapy or individual therapy (n=15 each). Both cohorts underwent an identical multimodal 30-minute exercise protocol three times weekly for four weeks. The primary outcome measure was the 18-item General Well-Being Schedule (GWBS). Pre- and post-intervention differences were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests (α = 0.05).
Results: Significant within-group improvements were observed in both cohorts. However, between-group analysis demonstrated no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05), but the post mean value difference is greater in group therapy as compared to individual therapy, indicating comparable effectiveness.
Conclusion: Structured physiotherapy interventions improve psychological well-being in elderly women irrespective of delivery format. These findings support scalable community-based rehabilitation strategies for healthy aging.