The effects of stretching on the flexibility, muscle performance and functionality of institutionalized older women

Abstract

13), Barthel Index (>13) and Lysholm Scoring Scale (>84). Seventeen 67 ± 9 year-old elderly women from a nursing home were divided into 2 groups at random: the control group (CG, N = 9) participated in enjoyable cultural activities; the stretching group (SG, N = 8) performed active stretching of hamstrings, 4 bouts of 1 min each. Both groups were supervised three times per week over a period of 8 weeks. Peak torque was assessed by an isokinetic method. Both groups were evaluated by a photogrammetric method to assess muscle-tendon length of uni- and biarticular hip flexors and hamstring flexibility. All measurements were analyzed before and after 8 weeks by two-way ANOVA with the level of significance set at 5%. Hamstring flexibility increased by 30% in the SG group compared to pre-training (76.5 ± 13.0° vs 59.5 ± 9.0°, P = 0.0002) and by 9.2% compared to the CG group (76.5 ± 13.0° vs 64.0 ± 12.0°, P = 0.0018). Muscle-tendon lengths of hip biarticular flexor muscles (124 ± 6.8° vs 118.3 ± 7.6°, 5.0 ± 7.0%, P = 0.031) and eccentric knee extensor peak torque were decreased in the CG group compared to pre-test values (-49.4 ± 16.8 vs -60.5 ± 18.9 Nm, -15.7 ± 20%, P = 0.048). The stretching program was sufficient to increase hamstring flexibility and a lack of stretching can cause reduction of muscle performance.]]>

Supervised dance intervention based on video game choreography increases quadriceps cross sectional area and peak of torque in community dwelling older women

“…Then, 1 set of 3 maximal continuous voluntary flexion-extension were performed and considered for analysis. This process was done to evaluate knee concentric and eccentric strength, at 60°/s and 180°/s, with 2 minutes of rest among the tests 23,26,27 , and 60º of range of motion (ROM) 26 . Participants received verbal encouragement in order to reach the maximal strength through the full available ROM at every trial 26,27 .…”

“…This process was done to evaluate knee concentric and eccentric strength, at 60°/s and 180°/s, with 2 minutes of rest among the tests 23,26,27 , and 60º of range of motion (ROM) 26 . Participants received verbal encouragement in order to reach the maximal strength through the full available ROM at every trial 26,27 . After the tests the subjects performed 2 repetitions of 30 seconds stretching exercises for extensor and flexor knee joint at orthostatic position.…”

Programa de ejercicio estructurado es viable y mejora la capacidad funcional en adultos mayores en Puerto Rico

“…La flexibilidad promedio entre los participantes del presente estudio mejoró significativamente con cuatro semanas y se sostuvo a las ocho semanas, lo que sugiere que el PECE fue efectivo en provocar cambios en flexibilidad. Esto es especialmente relevante dado que la falta de flexibilidad de espalda baja y músculos isquiotibiales está asociada con problemas de dolor crónico en el área, aumento en el riesgo de caídas y fracturas y reducción en la capacidad de realizar tareas diarias entre adultos mayores (Cedric & James, 1999;Gallon et al, 2011;Lan et al, 1998). También se ha sugerido que una buena flexibilidad mejora el desarrollo de velocidad, balance dinámico y resistencia muscular (Stanziano, Roos, Perry, Lai, & Signorile, 2009;Thompson, 1991), todos necesarios para una buena movilidad.…”

“…Esta observación sustenta lo reportado en algunos estudios previos (Ready et al, 1996;Wagner, La Croix, Buchner, & Larson, 1992), pero contradice lo reportado por otros (Fahlman, Boardley, Lambert, & Flynn, 2002;Gallon et al, 2011;Isler, Kosar, & Korkusuz, 2001;Kostka, Lacour, Berthouze, & Bonnefoy, 1999) en donde los niveles de HDL aumentaron como resultado de una intervención con ejercicio en adultos mayores. Es posible que los programas de ejercicio para esta población requieran mayor duración y mayor nivel de intensidad para alcanzar cambios significativos en estos parámetros.…”

Recursos Fisioterapêuticos Utilizados No Tratamento De Patologias Mais Comuns Em Idosos: Um Estudo De Revisão

“…(13) Estudos têm demonstrado que exercí-cios de alongamento podem proporcionar aumento na amplitude articular. (14) Os alongamentos devem ser realizados durante o aquecimento e ao final da sessão. A melhoria da amplitude articular aumenta o desempenho muscular, reduz o risco de lesão e melhora a nutrição da cartilagem.…”