INTRODUCTION: Sensomotoric training, which stimulates the integration of eksteroceptive and proprioceptive systems with motor system, is now gaining increasing popularity in physiotherapy and professional sport. AIM: The aim of our randomized quasi-controlled trial was to determine the effect of physical exercises performed on unstable surfaces (the mattresses, the Swiss balls, the stability trainers, the foam rollers, the thera-band training stations with tubbings) on the functional performance of people who completed 65 years of age and have had chronic back pain. MATERIAL AND METHOD: After announcement on TV, a total of 91 people volunteered to participate in the experiment and their functional performance was assessed using tests: Functional Reach (FR), Functional Strength (FS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). In the first edition of supervised, group, sensomotoric exercises program participated 30 people aged 65 to 93 (mean age 74.14 +/- 5.45 years of age). Control group was represented by 39 persons (mean age 71.92 +/- 11.17 years of age) waiting to participate in another training program with additional 12 volunteeres. In the post-experiment examination and the follow-up (3 months after the end of exercises) participated 20 people of the exercise group and 25 of the control group. The analysis of the results was based on multiple analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: In the analysis of change dynamics in time only the FS test revealed a significant change of the analyzed parameter (F = 5.90, p = 0.006), also dependent on belonging to the ex-ercising group (F = 3.90, p = 0.029). In other performed tests for the set level p <= 0.05, no significant differences in the changes of the analyzed parameters in general, according to division into gender between the groups nor in the groups according to division into gender were found. CONCLUSIONS: We suppose that the functional efficiency of the persons eager to participate in the project being high in the test before the experiment and better average result for the control group in comparison to the exercising group in FR, TUG and ODI assessment could have impact on the loss of expected, favorable changes in these tests after the experiment and follow-up for the group participating in the six-month sensomotoric training. The significant changes found in the FS test resulting from participation in the group of physical training on unstable surfaces prove the favorable impact of the sensomotoric exercises in increasing the strength of lower limbs' muscles of the elderly people and their subjective opinions on positive impact of that kind of intervention on their psychophysical state. It is also recommended to develop more diverse and relevant physical tests and questionnaires for measurement of the effectiveness of physical exercises for the elderly people.

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