The Effect of Short-Term Balance Training on Community-Dwelling Older Adults

This study evaluated a balance-training program’s influence in healthy older adults. Fifteen community-dwelling participants aged 70–75 years were randomized to an exercise group, and 15 gender- and age-matched participants, to a control group. The 9-week training program comprised ordinary-life balance, vestibular-habituation, and ball exercises and station training. Clinical balance tests were conducted before and after training. Tests that showed significant improvement in the exercise group after the intervention included standing on the right leg with eyes closed, standing on the right leg and the left leg while turning the head and walking 30 m. Significant between-group differences were found at posttest. A significant decrease was seen in the control group in the walking-forward test, and this change was significantly different between groups. The study indicates that balance performance in healthy older adults might be improved by balance training including exercises that stimulate multiple sensory systems and their central integration.

Download Full-text

Core Muscle Strengthening’s Improvement of Balance Performance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Pilot Study

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2012-0132 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 65-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Nicole Kahle ◽

Michael A. Tevald

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Balance Training ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Exercise Group ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Home Exercise ◽

Balance Performance ◽

Balance Test ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

To determine the effect of core muscle strengthening on balance in community-dwelling older adults, 24 healthy men and women between 65 and 85 years old were randomized to either exercise (EX;n= 12) or control (CON;n= 12) groups. The exercise group performed a core strengthening home exercise program thrice weekly for 6 wk. Core muscle (curl-up test), functional reach (FR) and Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) were assessed at baseline and follow-up. There were no group differences at baseline. At follow-up, EX exhibited significantly greater improvements in curl-up (Cohen’sd= 4.4), FR (1.3), and SEBT (>1.9 for all directions) than CON. The change in curl-up was significantly correlated with the change in FR (r= .44,p= .03) and SEBT (r> .61,p≤ .002). These results suggest that core strengthening should be part of a comprehensive balance-training program for older adults.

Download Full-text

Short-term balance training and acute effects on postural sway in balance-deficient older adults: a randomized controlled trial

BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation ◽

10.1186/s13102-021-00251-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Niklas Sörlén ◽

Andreas Hult ◽

Peter Nordström ◽

Anna Nordström ◽

Jonas Johansson

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Postural Sway ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Control Group ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

Balance Exercise

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.

Download Full-text

Different Modulatory Effects of Cognitive Training and Aerobic Exercise on Resting State Functional Connectivity of Entorhinal Cortex in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnagi.2021.655245 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

Author(s):

NanNan Gu ◽

Hechun Li ◽

Xinyi Cao ◽

Ting Li ◽

Lijuan Jiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Training Group ◽

Exercise Group ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Index Score ◽

Angular Gyrus ◽

The Right ◽

Left Angular Gyrus

The entorhinal cortex (EC) plays an essential role in age-related cognitive decline. However, the effect of functional connectivity (FC) changes between EC and other cerebral cortices on cognitive function remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the modulation of two interventions (cognitive training and aerobic exercise) on EC-FC in community-dwelling older adults. In total, 94 healthy older adults aged between 65 and 75 years were assigned to either the cognitive training or aerobic exercise group to receive 24 sessions over 12 weeks, or to a control group. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed at both baseline and 12-month follow-up. Compared to the cognitive training group, the aerobic exercise group showed greater EC-FC in the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, right supramarginal gyrus, left angular gyrus, and right postcentral gyrus. Compared to the control group, the cognitive training group had a decreased EC-FC in the right hippocampus, right middle temporal gyrus, left angular gyrus, and right postcentral gyrus and an increased EC-FC in the bilateral pallidum, while the aerobic exercise group showed increased EC-FC between the right medial prefrontal cortex(mPFC), bilateral pallidum, and right precuneus. Baseline EC-FC in the mPFC was positively correlated with the visuospatial/constructional index score of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status. In the cognitive training group, EC-FC value changes in the right hippocampus were negatively correlated with changes in the RBANS delayed memory index score, while in the aerobic exercise group, EC-FC value changes in the left angular gyrus were positively correlated with changes in the RBANS attention index score. These findings support the hypothesis that both cognitive training and aerobic exercise can modulate EC-FC in aging populations but through different neural pathways.

Download Full-text

Chinese Martial Art Training Failed to Improve Balance or Inhibit Falls in Older Adults

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.1177/0031512518824945 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 126 (3) ◽

pp. 389-409 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ada W. W. Ma ◽

Hsing-Kuo Wang ◽

Duan-Rung Chen ◽

Ya-Mei Chen ◽

Yvonne T. C. Chak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Peak Force ◽

Control Group ◽

Balance Performance ◽

Balance Confidence ◽

Martial Art ◽

Knee Flexors

This randomized controlled trial explored the effects of a Ving Tsun (VT) Chinese martial art training program on reactive standing balance performance, postural muscle reflex contraction latency, leg muscle performance, balance confidence and falls in community-dwelling older adults. We randomly assigned 33 healthy older adults to either a VT group (mean age = 67.5 years) or a control group (mean age = 72.1 years). The VT group received two 1-hour VT training sessions per week for three months (24 sessions). Primary outcome measures collected before and after the intervention period were electromyographic muscle activation onset latencies of the hamstring and gastrocnemius and the center of pressure path, length and movement velocity in standing (reactive balance performance). Secondary outcome measures included isometric peak force and time to isometric peak force of the knee extensors and flexors, the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale score, and fall history. Results revealed that the mean gastrocnemius muscle activation onset latency was significantly longer (22.53 ms) in the VT group after the intervention. The peak force of the knee flexors significantly increased (by 1.58 kg) in the control group over time but not in the VT group. The time to reach peak force in the knee flexors was significantly longer (by 0.51 s) in the control group (but not the VT group) at posttest compared with the pretest value. No other significant group, time, or group-by-time interaction effects were noted. We discussed possible reasons for the failure of three months of martial art training to benefit fall risks among these older adults.

Download Full-text

Effects of Balance Training on Balance Performance in Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Sports Medicine ◽

10.1007/s40279-015-0375-y ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 45 (12) ◽

pp. 1721-1738 ◽

Cited By ~ 102

Author(s):

Melanie Lesinski ◽

Tibor Hortobágyi ◽

Thomas Muehlbauer ◽

Albert Gollhofer ◽

Urs Granacher

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Balance Training ◽

Balance Performance ◽

Healthy Older Adults

Download Full-text

Perturbation Training for Fall-Risk Reduction in Healthy Older Adults: Interference and Generalization to Opposing Novel Perturbations Post Intervention

Frontiers in Sports and Active Living ◽

10.3389/fspor.2021.697169 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Tanvi Bhatt ◽

Yiru Wang ◽

Shuaijie Wang ◽

Lakshmi Kannan

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Step Length ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Control Group ◽

Reactive Control ◽

Ctrl Group ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Perturbation Training ◽

Perturbed Walking

This study examined the effects of perturbation training on the contextual interference and generalization of encountering a novel opposing perturbation. One hundred and sixty-nine community-dwelling healthy older adults (69.6 ± 6.4 years) were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: slip-perturbation training (St, n = 67) group received 24 slips, trip-perturbation training (Tt, n = 67) group received 24 trips, and control (Ctrl: n = 31) group received only non-perturbed walking trials (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03199729; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03199729). After training, all groups had 30 min of rest and three post-training non-perturbed walking trials, followed by a reslip and a novel trip trial for St, a retrip and a novel slip trial for Tt, and randomized novel slip and trip trials for Ctrl. The margin of stability (MOS), step length, and toe clearance of post-training walking trials were compared among three groups to examine interferences in proactive adjustment. Falls, MOS at the instant of recovery foot touchdown, and hip height of post-training perturbation trials were investigated to detect interferences and generalization in reactive responses. Results indicated that prior adaptation to slip perturbation training, resulting in walking with a greater MOS (more anterior) and a shorter step length (p < 0.01) than that of the Ctrl group, would be associated with a greater likelihood to forward balance loss if encountered with a trip. The trip adaptation training mainly induced a higher toe clearance during walking (p < 0.01) than the Ctrl group, which could lead to reduced effectiveness of the reactive response when encountered with a novel slip. However, there was no difference in the reactive MOS, limb support, and falls between the control group and the slip and trip training groups on their respective opposing novel perturbation post-training (MOS, limb support, and falls for novel slip: Tt = Ctrl; for the novel trip: St = Ctrl, both p > 0.05). Current findings suggested that, although perturbation training results in proactive adjustments that could worsen the reactive response (interference) when exposed to an unexpected opposing perturbation, older adults demonstrated the ability to immediately generalize the training-induced adaptive reactive control to maintain MOS, to preserve limb support control, and to reduce fall risk.

Download Full-text

Pilot Outcomes of a Multicomponent Fall Risk Program Integrated Into Daily Lives of Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Journal of Applied Gerontology ◽

10.1177/0733464820912664 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 073346482091266

Author(s):

Sarah L. Szanton ◽

Lindy Clemson ◽

Minhui Liu ◽

Laura N. Gitlin ◽

Melissa D. Hladek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Fall Prevention ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Pilot Trial ◽

Balance Training ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Control Group ◽

Timed Up And Go ◽

Daily Lives ◽

Fall Risk Factors

Objectives: To evaluate whether a fall prevention intervention reduces fall risk in older adults who have previously fallen. Design: Randomized controlled pilot trial. Setting: Participants’ homes. Intervention: LIVE-LiFE, adapted from Lifestyle-Intervention Functional Exercise (LiFE) integrates strength and balance training into daily habits in eight visits over 12 weeks. The adaptations to LiFE were to also provide (a) US$500 in home safety changes, (b) vision contrast screening and referral, and (c) medication recommendations. Control condition consisted of fall prevention materials and individualized fall risk summary. Measurement: Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Tandem stand. Falls efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of the intervention. Results: Sample ( N = 37) was 65% female, 65% White, and average 77 years. Compared with the control group, each outcome improved in the intervention. The LIVE-LiFE intervention had a large effect (1.1) for tandem stand, moderate (0.5) in falls efficacy, and small (0.1) in the TUG. Conclusion: Simultaneously addressing preventable fall risk factors is feasible.

Download Full-text

Comparing the Effects of Single-Task versus Dual-Task Balance Training on Gait Smoothness and Functional Balance in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2020-0523 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Samira Javadpour ◽

Ehsan Sinaei ◽

Reza Salehi ◽

Shahla Zahednejad ◽

Alireza Motealleh

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Dual Task ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Balance Training ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Control Group ◽

Timed Up And Go ◽

Training Groups ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

To compare the effects of single- versus dual-task balance training on the gait smoothness and balance of community-dwelling older adults, 69 volunteers were randomized to single-, dual-task training, and control (no intervention) groups. Exercises were received in 18 sessions through 6 weeks. The gait smoothness was measured by the harmonic ratio of trunk accelerations using a triaxial accelerometer. Balance performance was assessed through the Fullerton Advanced Balance scale, Timed Up and Go test, Activities-specific Balance Confidence, and gait speed. After the trial, all variables improved significantly in the training groups. Moreover, differences in the mean change of all variables, except the Timed Up and Go test, were statistically significant between the interventional groups and the control group, but no significant difference was reported between the two training groups. This study suggests that balance training can improve gait smoothness as well as balance status in healthy older adults.

Download Full-text