title: Effects of a Fall Prevention Exercise Program on Muscle Strength and Balance of the Old-old Elderly.
abstract: [Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an 8-week balance exercise and elastic-resistance exercise program on muscle strength and balance of the old-old elderly (over the age of 75). [Subjects and Methods] Fifty-five elderly persons were recruited from the community and assigned to three groups for convenience: balance exercise (intervention group 1; INT 1), resistance exercise (intervention group 2; INT 2), and control (CON) groups. The intervention was performed twice a week at a senior center and three times a week at home for 8 weeks. Muscle strength and balance were evaluated before and at the end of the trial, using a PowertrackIIand Tetrax. [Results] There were significant improvements in the strength of all seven muscle groups and balance in the INT 2 group. In the INT 1 group, there were significant improvements in the strength of all muscle groups except for the knee flexor and ankle plantar flexor muscle groups. [Conclusion] This study demonstrated that an intervention using balance exercises or elastic-resistance exercises is effective at improving the muscle strength and balance of the old-old elderly. These type of exercises should be appropriate for the physical characteristics of the subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School, Institute for Safety Promotion, Inje University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Inje University: 607 Obang dong, Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do 621-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Duk-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: An
keywords: Falls; Muscle strength; Postural balance