title: Postural control in elderly women with osteoporosis: comparison of balance, strengthening and stretching exercises. A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of balance training associated with muscle strengthening or stretching, relative to no intervention, in the postural control of elderly women with osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sample consisted of 50 women aged 65 years or older, with osteoporosis, randomized into one of three groups: strengthening group (n = 17) performed balance training with muscle strengthening; stretching group (n = 17) performed balance training with stretching; and control group (n = 16), no activities. Interventions lasted eight weeks, twice a week, 60 minutes a day.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postural control was evaluated by the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction for Balance (CTSIBm) and Limits of Stability Test. Strength was assessed by dynamometry and the shortening of the hamstrings by goniometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relative to controls, participants in the strengthening group displayed significantly increased dorsiflexion strength and knee flexion strength, as well as centre of pressure velocity, directional control, and oscillation velocity (CTSIBm test). The stretching group had significantly improvements in hamstring length, knee flexion strength, centre of pressure velocity, and amplitude of movements. Relative to the stretching group, the strengthening group yielded better knee extension strength and directional control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that both interventions are effective in improving postural control when compared to the control group, and the strengthening group was superior to the stretching group in knee extension strength and in directional control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech, Physical and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. thomazburke@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Thomaz Nogueira
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Fábio Jorge Renovato
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: França
authors.forename: Sarah Rúbia Ferreira de
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Meneses
authors.forename: Rosa Maria Rodrigues
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Amélia Pasqual
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*