scholarly journals Methods and Strategies for Reconditioning Motor Output and Postural Balance in Frail Older Subjects Prone to Falls

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Paillard
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Postural Balance ◽  
Motor Output ◽  
Vicious Circle ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Strength Increase ◽  
Risk Of Falling ◽  
Balance System ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Older Subjects

In frail older subjects, the motor output of the antigravity muscles is fundamental in resisting falls. These muscles undergo accelerated involutions when they are inactive and the risk of falling increases during leisure and domestic physical activity. In order to reduce their risk of falling, frail older subjects limit their physical activities/exercises. The problem is that the less they exercise, the less they are able to exercise and the greater the risk in exercising. Hence, a vicious circle sets up and the antigravity muscles inevitably continue to deteriorate. This vicious circle must be broken by starting a reconditioning program based on developing the strength of antigravity muscles (especially lower-limb muscles). To begin with, for each increase in muscle strength, postural balance is improved. Once this increase reaches the threshold beyond which postural balance no longer improves, it seems appropriate to implement exercises aimed at concomitantly improving motor output and postural balance in order to counteract or even reverse the involution process of the postural balance system. Methods and strategies toward this end are proposed in this present communication. However, the transfer effects between strength increase and postural balance ability are not yet totally known and future research should evaluate the relationship between muscle strength and postural balance throughout rehabilitation programs (i.e., program follow-ups) in frail older subjects in order to advance knowledge of this relationship.

scholarly journals Generalized joint hypermobility, scoliosis, patellofemoral pain, and physical abilities in young dancers

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nili Steinberg ◽  
Shay Tenenbaum ◽  
Aviva Zeev ◽  
Michal Pantanowitz ◽  
Gordon Waddington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Postural Balance ◽  
Patellofemoral Pain ◽  
Joint Hypermobility ◽  
Knee Extensors ◽  
Young Girls ◽  
Generalized Joint Hypermobility ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Physical Abilities

Abstract Background Many young girls with generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) choose to participate in dance because their bodies are suited for this activity. Scoliosis tends to occur often in thin girls, who also are more likely to choose dance. Both anomalies (GJH and scoliosis) may be related to reduced abilities such as diminished strength and insufficient postural balance, with increased risk for musculoskeletal conditions. The main objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of dancers with GJH, the prevalence of dancers with scoliosis, and the prevalence of dancers with these two anomalies; and, to determine differences in physical abilities and the presence of patellofemoral pain (PFP) between young female dancers with and without such anomalies. Methods One hundred thirty-two female dancers, aged 12–14 years, were assessed for anthropometric parameters, GJH, scoliosis, knee muscle strength, postural balance, proprioception ability, and PFP. Results GJH was identified in 54 dancers (40.9%) and scoliosis in 38 dancers (28.8%). Significant differences were found in the proportion of dancers with no anomalies (74 dancers, 56.1%) and dancers with both anomalies (34 dancers, 25.8%) (p < .001). Dancers with both anomalies had reduced dynamic postural balance in the anterior direction (p = .023), reduced proprioception ability (p < .001), and weaker knee extensors (p = .036) and flexors (p = .040) compared with dancers with no anomalies. Among dancers with both anomalies, 73.5% suffered bilateral PFP, 17.6% suffered unilateral PFP, and 8.8% had no PFP (p < .001). Conclusions A high prevalence of young girls participating in dance classes had GJH, as the increased joint flexibility probably provides them with some esthetic advantages. The high prevalence of scoliosis found in these young dancers might be attributed to their relatively low body mass, their delayed maturation, and the selection process of dancers. Dancers with both GJH and scoliosis had decreased muscle strength, reduced postural balance, reduced proprioception, with higher risk of PFP. The main clinical implications are the need to reduce the risk of PFP among dancers by developing appropriate strength and stabilizing exercises combined with proprioceptive and postural balance training, to improve the correct alignment of the hyperextended and hypermobile joints, and to improve their supporting muscle strength.

scholarly journals Effects of training and detraining on muscle strength in rowers

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 223-227
Author(s):  
Nebojsa Janjic ◽  
Mina Maricic ◽  
Andrea Zubnar ◽  
Vedrana Karan ◽  
Miodrag Drapsin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Muscle Adaptation ◽  
Contraction Rate ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Muscle Groups ◽  
Leg Extensor Power ◽  
Novi Sad ◽  
Periodized Training ◽  
Leg Extensors ◽  
Training And Detraining

Introduction. Annual and periodized training protocols significantly affect the muscle adaptation in rowers. Considering that the main goal of the training period is increasing specific muscle strength and of detraining period increasing general strength and active rest, the aim of this study was to compare the strength of different muscle groups between training and detraining periods. Material and Methods. The study was conducted at the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine Novi Sad, and it included 34 male and female rowers, 15 to 18 years of age. The muscle strength was measured using a Concept 2 DYNO dynamometer. The strength of the arm extensors and flexors, as well as the leg extensors was measured twice, at the end of the competition season (peak of performance) and before the beginning of the preparation season (after detraining). Results. A statistically significant decrease was found in absolute and relative muscle strength, flexor and arm extensor contraction rate, as well as relative leg extensor strength and contraction rate during the training and detraining periods (p < 0.05). No difference was found in the absolute leg extensor power between the two measurements (p > 0.05). Conclusion. Periodization of the annual training program in rowers has a higher impact on differences in the upper limb muscle adaptation, compared to lower limb muscles in terms of absolute strength.

scholarly journals Paving the Way Toward Distinguishing Fallers From Non-fallers in Bilateral Vestibulopathy: A Wide Pilot Observation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nolan Herssens ◽  
Bieke Dobbels ◽  
Julie Moyaert ◽  
Raymond Van de Berg ◽  
Wim Saeys ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Contextual Information ◽  
Vestibular Function ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Risk Of Falling ◽  
Bilateral Vestibulopathy ◽  
Activities Of Daily Life ◽  
Increased Risk

Patients with bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) present with unsteadiness during standing and walking, limiting their activities of daily life and, more importantly, resulting in an increased risk of falling. In BVP patients, falls are considered as one of the major complications, with patients having a 31-fold increased risk of falling compared to healthy subjects. Thus, highlighting objective measures that can easily and accurately assess the risk of falling in BVP patients is an important step in reducing the incidence of falls and the accompanying burdens. Therefore, this study investigated the interrelations between demographic characteristics, vestibular function, questionnaires on self-perceived handicap and balance confidence, clinical balance measures, gait variables, and fall status in 27 BVP patients. Based on the history of falls in the preceding 12 months, the patients were subdivided in a “faller” or “non-faller” group. Results on the different outcome measures were compared between the “faller” and “non-faller” subgroups using Pearson's chi-square test in the case of categorical data; for continuous data, Mann–Whitney U test was used. Performances on the clinical balance measures were comparable between fallers and non-fallers, indicating that, independent from fall status, the BVP patients present with an increased risk of falling. However, fallers tended to report a worse self-perceived handicap and confidence during performing activities of daily life. Spatiotemporal parameters of gait did not differ between fallers and non-fallers during walking at slow, preferred, or fast walking speed. These results may thus imply that, when aiming to distinguish fallers from non-fallers, the BVP patients' beliefs concerning their capabilities may be more important than the moderately or severely affected physical performance within a clinical setting. Outcome measures addressing the self-efficacy and fear of falling in BVP patients should therefore be incorporated in future research to investigate whether these are indeed able to distinguish fallers form non-fallers. Additionally, information regarding physical activity could provide valuable insights on the contextual information influencing behavior and falls in BVP.

Postural control and risk of falling in people who are blind: The effect and durability of perturbation and vestibular exercises

2022 ◽  
pp. 026461962110673
Author(s):  
Yousof Moghadas Tabrizi ◽  
Mohammad Hani Mansori ◽  
Mohammad Karimizadeh Ardakani
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Somatosensory System ◽  
Exercise Group ◽  
Risk Of Falling ◽  
Balance System ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Falling Risk

The aim of this study was to compare the effect and durability of perturbation and vestibular exercises on balance and the risk of falling in people with visual impairment (VI). Thirty-six men with VI were divided into three groups, including a control and two experimental (perturbation and vestibular) groups. The experimental groups performed perturbation and vestibular exercises for 4 weeks and three sessions per week. Biodex balance system was used to assess balance and falling risk before and after training interventions. To evaluate the effects within and between groups at three levels of measurement: pre-test, post-test, and durability effect between three groups, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and one-way ANOVA were used. Repeated measures ANOVA test showed that both experimental groups showed significant improvements in static balance, dynamic balance, and falling risk. In comparison between the groups, the results showed that in the post-test and durability stages, there was a significant difference between the groups and the perturbation exercise group had a greater effect on the dependent variables. Due to the effectiveness of exercises, it is recommended that people with VI pay attention to balance-based perturbation exercises to strengthen the somatosensory system and vestibular exercises to strengthen the vestibular system.

scholarly journals The Influence of 24-Hour Sleep Deprivation on the Strength of Lower Limb Muscles in Young and Physically Fit Women and Men

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2762
Author(s):  
Karolina Kujawa ◽  
Marta Ołpińska-Lischka ◽  
Janusz Maciaszek
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Physical Education Students ◽  
Flexor Muscles ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of 24-h sleep deprivation on the muscle strength of young, healthy and physically fit people. The research material consisted of physical education students. In total, 67 people participated in the study, including 38 women and 29 men. Respondents were divided into an experimental group “E” of 44 persons subjected to 24-h sleep deprivation and a control group “C” of 23 persons. Students completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) measuring daytime sleepiness. Students performed measurements of the maximum strength of knee joint extensor and flexor muscles. Measurements of muscle strength of flexors and extensors of the knee were taken on a UPR-02 A/S chair with Moment II by Sumer software. ANOVA (analysis of variance) was used to determine the significance of differences between experimental “E” and control “C” group. Statistical significance was defined at the level of p ≤ 0.05. Statistically significant differences were observed in the change of strength levels between groups at the strength moments of right (p < 0.05, η2p = 0.16) and left (p < 0.05, η2p = 0.08) knee muscles extensor. Changes in extensor muscle strength are significant for students with left dominant legs.

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