Department of Sports and Movement Sciences (DISMOT), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Aging Clin Exp Res. 2011 Oct-Dec;23(5-6):378-85. doi: 10.1007/BF03337762. Epub 2010 Nov 17.
Many studies have reported a greater frequency of falls among older women than men in conditions which stress balance. Previously, we found an improvement in static balance in older women with an increased support surface area and equal load redistribution on both feet, in response to a dynamic balance training protocol. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the same training program and body composition would have effects on the postural control of older overweight women.
Ten healthy women (68.67 ± 5.50 yrs; 28.17 ± 3.35 BMI) participated in a five-week physical activity program. This included dynamic balance exercises, such as heel-to-toe walking in different directions, putting their hands on their hips, eyes open (EO) or closed (EC), with a tablet on their heads, going up and down one step, and walking on a mat. Postural stability was assessed before and after training with an optoelectronic platform and a uni-pedal balance performance test. Body composition of the trunk, upper limbs and lower limbs was measured by bio-impedance analysis.
The mean speed (MS), medial-lateral MS (MS-x), anterior-posterior MS (MS-y), sway path (SP) and ellipse surface area (ESA) of the pressure center was reduced after training in older women. However, only MS, MS-x, MS-y and SP significantly decreased in bipodalic conditions with EO and MS-y also with EC (p<0.05). Instead, in monopodalic conditions, we found a significant reduction in the ESA of both feet with EO and EC. These data were associated with a significant increase in the lean mass of lower limbs and a higher number of participants who improved their ability to maintain unipedal static balance.
Our dynamic balance training protocol appears to be feasible, safe and repeatable for older overweight women and to have positive effects in improving their lateral and anterior-posterior postural control, mainly acting on the visual and skeletal muscle components of the balance control system.
许多研究报告称，在强调平衡的情况下，老年女性跌倒的频率高于男性。此前，我们发现，通过增加支撑面并在双脚上均匀分配负荷，以响应动态平衡训练方案，老年女性的静态平衡得到了改善。本研究旨在探讨相同的训练方案和身体成分是否会对超重老年女性的姿势控制产生影响。
10 名健康女性（68.67±5.50 岁；28.17±3.35 BMI）参加了为期五周的体育活动方案。这包括动态平衡练习，如脚跟到脚趾的不同方向行走、双手放在臀部上、睁眼（EO）或闭眼（EC）、头部放一块平板电脑、上下一级台阶和在垫子上行走。在训练前后使用光电平台和单足平衡性能测试评估姿势稳定性。通过生物阻抗分析测量躯干、上肢和下肢的身体成分。
在老年女性中，训练后压力中心的平均速度（MS）、横向 MS（MS-x）、前后向 MS（MS-y）、摆动路径（SP）和椭圆表面积（ESA）均降低。然而，仅在EO 和 EC 时双足条件下的 MS、MS-x、MS-y 和 SP 显著降低（p<0.05）。相反，在单足条件下，我们发现 EO 和 EC 时双脚的 ESA 显著减小。这些数据与下肢瘦体重的显著增加以及更多参与者提高单足静态平衡能力相关。
我们的动态平衡训练方案似乎对超重老年女性是可行、安全且可重复的，并且对改善其侧向和前后向姿势控制具有积极影响，主要作用于平衡控制系统的视觉和骨骼肌肉成分。
