Effects of short-term training combining strength and balance exercises on maximal strength and upright standing steadiness in elderly adults

Leucine-enriched protein supplementation does not influence neuromuscular adaptations in response to a 6-month strength training programme in older adults

“…Similar time course was observed for voluntary activation that increased during the first part (+27%) but not the last part (+3.9%) of the training programme. This is in agreement with an association between the gain in muscle strength and the increase in voluntary activation in short-duration (6 weeks) training programme(Penzer et al 2015). In contrast, muscle thickness and pennation angle increased only significantly during the last 3 months of training (Figure 2).…”

Influence of age and posture on spinal and corticospinal excitability

“…The optimal site of stimulation was determined by moving the coil until the site eliciting a MEP in soleus with the largest amplitude at a given intensity was identified. A custom-made helmet was used during upright standing to maintain the position of the coil without constraining balance (Baudry et al, 2014a,b;Penzer et al, 2015). The input-output relation was determined by increasing the stimulation intensity in steps of 10% of the maximal output of the stimulator (5 stimulations per step) up to 100% of the stimulator output or until the MEP amplitude reached a plateau (MEP max ) (Fig.…”

The effect of supervised and home based exercises on balance in elderly subjects: a randomized controlled trial to prevent falls

“…2,31,32 Brouwer et al 31 observed significant improvement in the balance (AP and ML direction) of elderly patients following the completion of supervised (one hour per week) and home-based (40 minutes, twice a week) exercise programs, for eight weeks, involving low resistance exercises against gravity, using an elastic band for the legs and torso and reach, weight displacement and walking on the spot exercises. Also, Jessup et al 32 found a reduction in the mean total AP and ML oscillation in bipedal and tandem positions in a group of elderly women after 32 weeks of an exercise protocol that included stretching, warmup, muscle strengthening and balance exercises (tandem forward and backward walking, walking with obstacles) and going up and down stairs using vests of progressive weight.…”

“…Also, Jessup et al 32 found a reduction in the mean total AP and ML oscillation in bipedal and tandem positions in a group of elderly women after 32 weeks of an exercise protocol that included stretching, warmup, muscle strengthening and balance exercises (tandem forward and backward walking, walking with obstacles) and going up and down stairs using vests of progressive weight. Penzer et al 2 observed a significant improvement in the balance of older people (average and maximum AP amplitude) in the bipedal position on foam after the completion of a supervised group exercise program (one hour, twice a week) for six weeks involving 10 minutes of warm-up and strengthening (three muscle strengthening exercises involving the lower limbs performed using equipment, strengthening the ankle extensors with an elastic band) or balance exercises (maintain balance on different surfaces: stiff, foam, bosu; with the eyes open and closed, and in bipedal, single leg and tandem positions), finalized by stretching.…”

“…Increased postural sway can be verified by an increase in the amplitude of center of pressure (COP) fluctuations. 2 Several studies have identified the benefits of exercise on the overall health of the elderly, [3][4][5] notably in the prevention of falls, 6,7 and a lack of postural control may be corrected through exercise-based intervention. 8 A number of studies have shown that combined training (multifactorial or multiple-factor) has greater benefits in preventing falls than training in isolation.…”