title: Relationships between trunk muscle strength, spinal mobility, and balance performance in older adults.
abstract: This study investigated associations between variables of trunk muscle strength (TMS), spinal mobility, and balance in seniors. Thirty-four seniors (sex: 18 female, 16 male; age: 70 ± 4 years; activity level: 13 ± 7 hr/week) were tested for maximal isometric strength (MIS) of the trunk extensors, flexors, lateral flexors, rotators, spinal mobility, and steady-state, reactive, and proactive balance. Significant correlations were detected between all measures of TMS and static steady-state balance (r = .43-.57, p < .05). Significant correlations were observed between specific measures of TMS and dynamic steady-state balance (r = .42-.55, p < .05). No significant correlations were found between all variables of TMS and reactive/proactive balance and between all variables of spinal mobility and balance. Regression analyses revealed that TMS explains between 1-33% of total variance of the respective balance parameters. Findings indicate that TMS is related to measures of steady-state balance which may imply that TMS promoting exercises should be integrated in strength training for seniors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Training and Movement Sciences, Cluster of Excellency in Cognition Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Granacher
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lacroix
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roettger
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gollhofer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muehlbauer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D013131:Spine / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic