Effectiveness of muscle strengthening and description of protocols for preventing falls in the elderly: a systematic review

Abstract

BackgroundFalls are a geriatric syndrome that is considered a significant public health problem in terms of morbidity and mortality because they lead to a decline in functional capacity and an impaired quality of life in the elderly. Lower limb muscle strengthening seems to be an effective intervention for preventing falls; however, there is no consensus regarding the best method for increasing lower limb muscle strength.ObjectivesTo analyze the effectiveness of lower limb muscle strengthening and to investigate and describe the protocols used for preventing falls in elderly subjects.MethodWe performed a systematic review of randomized and controlled clinical trials published between 2002 and 2012 in the databases PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and PEDro that cited some type of lower limb muscle strengthening protocol and that evaluated the incidence of falls as the primary outcome exclusively in elderly subjects. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Qualitative analysis was performed by independent reviewers applying the PEDro scale.ResultsThe data obtained from the selected studies showed lower fall rates in the intervention groups compared to controls. Six studies described the lower limb muscle strengthening protocol in detail. High methodological quality was found in 6 studies (PEDro score ≥7/10 points).ConclusionsThe methodological quality of the studies in this area appears to leave little doubt regarding the effectiveness of lower limb strengthening exercises for preventing falls in elderly subjects, however the interventions in these studies were poorly reported.

Effects of plantar sensitivity on balance and mobility in community‐dwelling older adults: A Turkish study

“…Ageing is associated with sensory and motor impairments, decreased mobility and reduced independence . Age‐related physiological changes affect the locomotor system and alter balance and gait parameters, and these alterations increase the risk of fall in older people . Community‐dwelling older people have high incidence of falls .…”

“…Age‐related physiological changes affect the locomotor system and alter balance and gait parameters, and these alterations increase the risk of fall in older people . Community‐dwelling older people have high incidence of falls . Falls may cause various injuries, pain syndromes, functional limitations and even mortality in these individuals .…”

Cardiovascular Responses to Different Resistance Exercise Protocols in Elderly

“…Muscle strength has been recognized as an important capacity to keep good health, functional independence and avoid falls in aging [5,20]. Thus, training with resistance exercise (RE) has been highly recommended for healthy purposes in the elderly [5].…”

Elderly perform lower number of repetitions maximum than young at low instead high load resistance exercise

“…Otherwise, we chose lower limb resistance exercise because it has been shown to be enough to keep good health, functional independence and avoid falls in aging (3)(4)(5) . The second limitation was the time execution control for concentric and eccentric phases.…”

“…Muscle strength capacity is primordial to keep good health, functional independence and avoid falls in aging (3)(4)(5) . Resistance exercise (RE) training has been purposed for this population (1,5,6) to increase muscle mass and strength.…”