NCT01248910

Health Benefits of Alpine Skiing for the Elderly

SASES: SAlzburg Skiing in the Elderly Study: Health Benefits of Alpine Skiing for the Elderly

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: —
• Sponsor: University of Salzburg · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: —

Summary

Older people tend to live a sedentary lifestyle which causes a loss of cardiorespiratory fitness, impaired postural stability and a increased risk of falls. Social isolation of older people leads to depression and other mental diseases. However, numerous studies show that age-related degradation processes and functional limitations can be counteracted by physical activity. Various studies show that alpine skiing is a complex sport that places demands on the cardiorespiratory, neuromuscular and sensorimotor systems. With studies providing evidence to suggest alpine skiing is an appropriate activity for elderly as a health-enhancing sport, perhaps Alpine skiing could provide the physical activity needed to counteract age-related degradation processes and loss of function. To date, there is a lack of long-term intervention studies devoted to this topic. The aim of this study was to monitor the long-term effects of skiing on the health of older people, as to age-related muscle breakdown, cardiorespiratory fitness, body stability, general mobility and the overall psychological state of the subjects.

Conditions

• Elderly
• Strength
• Exercise Capacity
• Postural Control

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Alpine Skiing

Timeline

• Start date: 2008-12-01
• Primary completion: 2010-11-01
• Completion: 2010-11-01
• First posted: 2010-11-25
• Last updated: 2010-11-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Austria