NCT02968030

Strengthening in Functional Mobility of Active Elderly

Influence of a Strengthening Exercise Program for Lower Limbs in Functional Mobility From Irregularly Active Elderly

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 7 (actual)
• Sponsor: Lislei Jorge Patrizzi · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 61 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Aging is characterized by functional losses among which, the related to mobility and balance may be highlighted. Regular physical activity, including muscle strengthening exercises, is beneficial to a healthy elderly. Thus, this study aimed to verify the influence of 8 weeks-program of lower limbs strengthening exercises in the balance and functional mobility of physically active elderly. The investigators evaluated 18 women, with ages between 61 and 80 years. Balance assessment was performed using the Functional Reach Test (FRT), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Romberg test in stable or unstable soil. For muscular strengthening of the lower limbs, the workload was determined by the strength reached in the eight-repetition maximum test (8RM), applying progressive load increments between training sessions conducted (50% , 60% , 70% of 8RM), with the muscle strength being reevaluated in the fourth week of training, with subsequent adjustment of the load for the subsequent training. The training took place in two weekly meetings, in 40-minute sessions, during eight weeks. Data were analyzed using the paired-t test and ANOVA with repeated measures. Among 18 evaluated elderly women, 7 completed the 8 week training proposed. Decrease in TUG time (p = 0,035) and statistically significant increase in muscle strength were observed in all muscle groups trained (quadriceps, hamstrings, adductors and abductors). FRT (p = 0.170) was not significantly different after training. Therefore, strength training proposed was efficient in improving muscle strength in the lower limbs of irregular physically active elderly, impacting positively on functional gain gait. However, the gain in muscle strength was not enough to generate significant results in static balance probably due to the type of exercise performed as well as due being limited to muscle groups of the lower limbs.

Conditions

• Aged
• Muscle Strength

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Muscle strength	Strength training The strength training for lower limbs muscles occurred twice a week, 40 minutes per session for eight consecutive weeks. n the first two weeks of training, each elderly performed the exercises with 50% of its load defined in 8RM test, increasing to 60 and 70% of the load in the third and fourth subsequent weeks, respectively. After this period, a new evaluation by 8RM strength test was conducted, adopting the fifth and sixth weeks of training 50% of value of the new load defined in 8RM test and to finalize the program in seventh and eighth weeks applied, respectively, 60% and 70% of the new charge. The exercises were performed for the quadriceps, hamstrings, muscles adductor and abductor hip.

Timeline

• Start date: 2008-01-01
• Primary completion: 2008-07-01
• Completion: 2009-12-01
• First posted: 2016-11-18
• Last updated: 2016-12-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Brazil