Citation

Aragão FA, Karamanidis K, Vaz MA, Arampatzis A. J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol. 2011; 21(3): 512-518.

Affiliation

Department of Physical Therapy, Balance and Movement Research Laboratory, State University of West of Paraná, Brazil; Exercise Research Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jelekin.2011.01.003

PMID

21306917

Abstract

Falls have been described by several studies as the major cause of hip and femur fractures among the elderly. Therefore, interventions to reduce fall risks, improve dynamic stability and the falling recovery strategies in the elderly population are highly relevant. This study aimed at investigating the effects of a 14-week mini-trampoline exercise intervention regarding the mechanisms of dynamic stability on elderly balance ability during sudden forward falls. Twenty-two elderly subjects participated on mini-trampoline training and 12 subjects were taken as controls. The subjects of the experimental group were evaluated before and after the 14-week trampoline training (exercised group), whereas control subjects were evaluated twice in the forward fall task with a three-month interval. The applied exercise intervention increased the plantar-flexors muscle strength (∼10%) as well as the ability to regain balance during the forward falls (∼35%). The 14-week mini-trampoline training intervention increased elderly abilities to recover balance during forward falls; the improvement was attributed to the higher rate of hip moment generation.

Language: en