Relationship between postural sway on an unstable platform and ankle plantar flexor force steadiness in community-dwelling older women

Abstract Background We aimed to determine the effectiveness of 4 weeks of balance exercise compared with no intervention on objectively measured postural sway. Methods This was a single-center parallel randomized controlled, open label, trial. A six-sided dice was used for allocation at a 1:1-ratio between exercise and control. The trial was performed at a university hospital clinic in Sweden and recruited community-dwelling older adults with documented postural instability. The intervention consisted of progressively challenging balance exercise three times per week, during 4 weeks, with follow-up at week five. Main outcome measures were objective postural sway length during eyes open and eyes closed conditions. Results Sixty-five participants aged 70 years (balance exercise n = 32; no intervention n = 33) were randomized. 14 participants were excluded from analysis because of early dropout before follow-up at week five, leaving 51 (n = 22; n = 29) participants for analysis. No significant differences were detected between the groups in any of the postural sway outcomes. Within-group analyses showed significant improvements in hand grip strength for the intervention group, while Timed Up & Go improvements were comparable between groups but only statistically significant in the control group. Conclusions Performing balance exercise over a four-week intervention period did not acutely improve postural sway in balance-deficient older adults. The lower limit in duration and frequency to achieve positive effects remains unclear. Trial registration Clinical trials NCT03227666, July 24, 2017, retrospectively registered.

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Estimations of body fat by anthropometry or bioelectrical impedance differ from those by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in prefrail community-dwelling older women

Nutrition Research ◽

10.1016/j.nutres.2020.12.002 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jessica S M da Silva ◽

Simone Biesek ◽

Audrin S Vojciechowski ◽

Victoria Z C Borba ◽

Estela I Rabito ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Women ◽

Body Fat ◽

Bioelectrical Impedance ◽

Dual Energy ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

X Ray

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Stability of Kyphosis, Strength, and Physical Performance Gains 1 Year After a Group Exercise Program in Community-Dwelling Hyperkyphotic Older Women

Yearbook of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1016/s0162-0908(09)79512-1 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2010 ◽

pp. 379-380

Author(s):

C.M. Jankowski

Keyword(s):

Older Women ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Group Exercise ◽

Performance Gains

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A 1-Year Exercise Program for Older Women: Effects on Falls, Injuries, and Physical Performance

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2.2.127 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 127-142 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Priscilla Gilliam MacRae ◽

Michael E. Feltner ◽

Sibylle Reinsch

Keyword(s):

Older Women ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Medical Attention ◽

Knee Extensors ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Hip Abductor ◽

Gait Abnormalities ◽

Risk Factors For Falls ◽

Low Intensity Exercise

This study examined the effects of a 1-year low intensity exercise program in community dwelling older women on falls, injuries, and risk factors for falls such as poor balance, muscular weakness, and gait abnormalities. Eighty older women were assigned to an exercise (Ex,n= 42) or attention control (Co,n= 38) group. During the 1-year study, 36% of the Ex group experienced a fall compared to 45% of the Co group (χ2= 0.22,p≥ 0.05). None of the 10 fallers in the Ex group suffered an injury that required medical attention, compared with 3 of the 14 fallers (21%) in the Co group. Further analyses indicated that the Co group declined significantly in isometric strength of the knee extensors and ankle dorsiflexors while the Ex group did not change significantly across the 1-year study. On measures of hip abductor strength, balance, and gait, the groups were not significantly different from each other pre- to post intervention.

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