Effect of Exercise on Postural Sway in the Elderly

Abstract

Fifty female subjects, aged 72–92 (mean 82) years, were enrolled in a 12-week (36 classes) exercise program aimed at increasing postural stability. Subjects were residents of sheltered apartments, rest homes or nursing homes, well enough and mobile enough to participate in the classes. The subjects were randomized into an exercise or a control group. Their postural sway, standing at rest on a force platform, was measured with eyes open and eyes closed. The groups were well matched in all respects. The results showed no improvement in the postural sway as a result of the exercise program. We hypothesize that increasing postural sway in the elderly represents a deterioration in, for the most part, the nervous system and may at this extreme of life indicate an irreversible loss of function. For this reason no improvement in postural sway may be possible.

Development of Core Strength Training Equipment and Its Effect on the Performance and Stability of the Elderly in Activities of Daily Living

“…The fact that the center of gravity was less disturbed over Ingersoll, Stone, & Krause, 2002). Many studies have predicted the elderly's risk of falling by analyzing COP parameters (Piirtola & Era, 2006;Pajala et al, 2008), and validated the effectiveness of balance training programs (Crilly, Willems, Trenholm, Hayes, & DelaquerriereRichardson, 1989;Judge, Lindsey, Underwood, & Winsemius, 1993). In the present study, we found significant differences in AP COP, ML COP, total COP, and COP 90 area between before and after the 8-week training (p < .05), which means that the movement trajectories of the older adults' center of gravity significantly declined.…”

Unequal decrease in bone density of lumbar spine and ultradistal radius in Colles' and vertebral fracture syndromes.

“…An alternative explanation is that women with Colles' fracture are more likely to fall than those with vertebral fracture. In this regard, Crilly et al (7) reported that women with Colles' fracture had more postural instability than age-matched controls.…”

“…Most previous studies of bone loss from the distal radius in patients with Colles' fracture scanned at sites proximal to the fracture site (3,4,(6)(7)(8)(9), where the bone is mainly cortical; at those sites bone mineral content was 5-7% below normal. The one exception was the study by Hesp et al (5) in which UDR-BMD was measured by a combined computed tomography/ single photon absorptiometry technique.…”

“…Much less is known about the extent of bone loss from the ultradistal radius (UDR),I i.e., the distal 3 cm of the radius, in women with type I osteoporosis and Colles' fracture or the relationship of loss at this site to loss in the vertebrae. Most densitometric measurements have been made proximal to the usual site of Colles' fracture, in a region containing 5-50% trabecular bone (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9).…”

Effects Of Physical Activity On Health Status In Older Adults II: Intervention Studies

“…Seven studies of gait and balance reported some statistically significant improvements attributable to exercise (11,34,45,46,54,76,95). Another positive study is not included in Table 1 not report detailed data (77).…”