Training Programs Effects on Strength and Balance in Older Adults

University of Padova

Status: Completed

Conditions: Fall

Treatments: Behavioral: ST; Behavioral: UNST

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05769361

UNST2223

Details and patient eligibility

About

Ageing involves several physiological changes such as loss of muscle mass, muscle strength, and alteration of balance control mechanisms. Consequently, there is an increased fall risk that can lead the older adult to a reduced self-sufficiency in daily living activities. Investigating the role of different physical activities to counteract the age-related declines deserves attention. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of two trainings performed with and without unstable devices, on dynamic balance control and lower limb strength compared to a control group that received no intervention.

Full description

The a-priori power analysis calculation reported a total sample size of 51 participants. We decided to increase the sample size of approximatively 20% hypothesizing an increment of drop-outs due to the not completely solved COVID-19 pandemic at the time of the study.

In this single-blinded randomized controlled study, both intervention groups received 24 training sessions of 45 minutes each, twice a week for 12 weeks.The two intervention groups and the control group were tested at the baseline (T0), after six weeks (T1), and after twelve weeks (T2).

Subjects of the intervention groups had to complete at least 21 out of 24 training sessions. Moreover, all subjects had to complete all the assessments. Otherwise, they were completely excluded from the data analysis.

Enrollment: 62 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65 to 85 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• self-sufficiency in daily living activities;
• aged between 65 and 85 years.

Exclusion criteria

• non-corrected sight disorders
• neurological disorders
• regular assumption of drugs that can interfere with normal cognitive functioning
• pathologies that contraindicate physical activity practice

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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62 participants in 3 patient groups

Unstable (UNST)

Experimental group

Description:

12-week training protocol with unstable devices, twice a week.

Treatment:

Behavioral: UNST

Stable (ST)

Experimental group

Description:

12-week training protocol with stable devices, twice a week

Treatment:

Behavioral: ST

Control (CTRL)

No Intervention group

Description:

No administration of training protocols.