Training Programs Effects on Strength and Balance in Older Adults
- Conditions
- Fall
- Interventions
- Behavioral: STBehavioral: UNST
- Registration Number
- NCT05769361
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Padova
- Brief Summary
Ageing involves several physiological changes such as loss of muscle mass, muscle strength, and alteration of balance control mechanisms. Consequently, there is an increased fall risk that can lead the older adult to a reduced self-sufficiency in daily living activities. Investigating the role of different physical activities to counteract the age-related declines deserves attention. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of two trainings performed with and without unstable devices, on dynamic balance control and lower limb strength compared to a control group that received no intervention.
- Detailed Description
The a-priori power analysis calculation reported a total sample size of 51 participants. We decided to increase the sample size of approximatively 20% hypothesizing an increment of drop-outs due to the not completely solved COVID-19 pandemic at the time of the study.
In this single-blinded randomized controlled study, both intervention groups received 24 training sessions of 45 minutes each, twice a week for 12 weeks.The two intervention groups and the control group were tested at the baseline (T0), after six weeks (T1), and after twelve weeks (T2).
Subjects of the intervention groups had to complete at least 21 out of 24 training sessions. Moreover, all subjects had to complete all the assessments. Otherwise, they were completely excluded from the data analysis.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 62
- self-sufficiency in daily living activities;
- aged between 65 and 85 years.
- non-corrected sight disorders
- neurological disorders
- regular assumption of drugs that can interfere with normal cognitive functioning
- pathologies that contraindicate physical activity practice
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Stable (ST) ST 12-week training protocol with stable devices, twice a week Unstable (UNST) UNST 12-week training protocol with unstable devices, twice a week.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Center of Pressure (CoP) Area95 At baseline (t0), after six weeks (t1) and after 12 weeks (t2) From the center of pressure (CoP) trajectory the following parameter is calculated in the dynamic test:
- The area of the 95th percentile confidence ellipse of the CoP measured in cm2 (Area95) over a 2.5-second time window from the beginning of the perturbation.Center of Pressure (CoP) Post Perturbation Variability At baseline (t0), after six weeks (t1) and after 12 weeks (t2) From the center of pressure (CoP) trajectory the following parameter is calculated in the dynamic test:
- The standard deviation (SD) of the CoP anterior-posterior displacement over a 2.5-second time window from the beginning of the perturbation as the post perturbation variability (PPV), measured in centimeters.Lower limb isometric strength At baseline (t0), after six weeks (t1) and after 12 weeks (t2) Isometric quadriceps maximal strength (Newton) measured with an instrumented chair. Specifically, a load cell is placed perpendicular to the subject's shank and collects the force in Newton expressed by the subject while sitting on the chair. The knee angle during the maximal effort is fixed at 90 degrees.
Center of Pressure (CoP) Unit Path At baseline (t0), after six weeks (t1) and after 12 weeks (t2) From the center of pressure (CoP) trajectory the following parameter is calculated in the dynamic test:
- The mean velocity of the CoP measured in cm∙s-1 (Unit Path) over a 2.5-second time window from the beginning of the perturbation;Center of Pressure (CoP) First Peak At baseline (t0), after six weeks (t1) and after 12 weeks (t2) From the center of pressure (CoP) trajectory the following parameter is calculated in the dynamic test:
- First peak (FP) as the difference in centimeters between the peak reached by the CoP displacement after the external perturbation and the mean value of the anterior-posterior CoP displacement before the perturbation.Center of Pressure (CoP) Maximal Oscillation At baseline (t0), after six weeks (t1) and after 12 weeks (t2) From the center of pressure (CoP) trajectory the following parameter is calculated in the dynamic test:
- Maximal oscillation of the CoP anterior-posterior displacement as the sum in centimeters of the absolute values of FP and the subsequent peak.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method 10-meter walking test At baseline (t0), after six weeks (t1) and after 12 weeks (t2) Walking 20 meters in a straight line at the preferred speed. The outcome is the time measured in seconds to complete the distance from the 5th to the 15th meter.
Timed Up and Go (TUG) test At baseline (t0), after six weeks (t1) and after 12 weeks (t2) Stand up from a chair, walk at the preferred pace to a cone at 3 meters, turn around, and walk back to the chair to sit down. The outcome is the time measured in seconds to complete the test.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Nutrition and Exercise Lab, DSB, University of Padova
🇮🇹Padova, Italy