Effects of combined sensory and muscular training on balance in Japanese older adults.
BACKGROUND
Adequate levels of physical balance and muscular strength are necessary to live independently in old age. The effects of an exercise training program targeting the sensory and muscle systems on balance and strength in a group of older adults were determined in this study.


METHODS
Static balance (one-leg balance with eyes closed), dynamic balance (limits of stability [endpoint excursion [EPE], maximum excursion [MXE]]), and strength (chair stand) were assessed before and after the intervention. Volunteers were divided randomly into a training group (TR, n = 15, 76 +/- 4 years) and a control group (CN, n = 14, 76 +/- 7 years). TR performed 12-week (2 days/week, 60 min/day) supervised training while standing on the floor (first 4 weeks) and progressing to standing on foam pads of different compliances. Exercises included movements that challenged the sensory and muscle systems.


RESULTS
After 12 weeks of training, the TR demonstrated significant improvements in static balance (82%); EPE backward (72%), right (32%), and left (33%); MXE backward (74%), right (31%), and left (18%); and lower body muscle strength (20%) with no significant changes in CN.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that this training program is very effective in improving balance and lower body strength in older adults.
Islam
Mohammod M
MM
Laboratory of Exercise Gerontology, Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Nagoya City University, Mizuho, Nagoya 467-8502, Japan. parumon3@yahoo.com
Nasu
Eriko
E
Rogers
Michael E
ME
Koizumi
Daisuke
D
Rogers
Nicole L
NL
Takeshima
Nobuo
N
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome