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Sport Sciences for Health

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01-08-2014 | Original Article

Effects of sedentary condition and longterm physical activity on postural balance and strength responses in elderly subjects

Authors: Luisa Pizzigalli, Said Ahmaidi, Alberto Rainoldi

Published in: Sport Sciences for Health | Issue 2/2014

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to characterise postural control and lower limbs muscular strength in elderly people conditioned to long-term physical activity or sedentariness.

Methods

Three groups of elderly males’ average age (mean ± SD) (67 ± 5 years) was studied: 11 tennis players (TP), 8 long-distance runners (LD) and 9 sedentary (S). The protocol consisted of standard balance tests with eyes open and closed in bipodalic (60 s) and monopodalic (30 s) conditions. Then, it was required to perform three isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) at the leg press to select the best one as reference. Postural static balance findings were further compared to a group of 15 young healthy sedentary males (average age 26 ± 1 years) (Y).

Results

TP showed more stability than S (p < 0.05) in bipodalic trials and greater force values during MVC than LD (p < 0.01). This group of elderly athletes showed the most similar postural characteristics to Y group. Post-hoc tests on MVC force showed a statistically significant difference (34 %, p < 0.01) between TP (1,456 ± 635 N) and LD (964 ± 219 N) groups. No statistically significant MVC differences were obtained between active and sedentary (1,129 ± 400 N) elderly groups. In TP force peak was found related with the average speeds in A-P and M-L planes of the balance performance (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

It is possible to conclude that postural stability and lower limb’s muscular strength can be increased in elderly people with a power physical activity, such as tennis. Thus it is also possible to speculate that such a conditioning can be considered promising to decrease risks of falling.

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Title: Effects of sedentary condition and longterm physical activity on postural balance and strength responses in elderly subjects
Authors: Luisa Pizzigalli
Said Ahmaidi
Alberto Rainoldi
Publication date: 01-08-2014
Publisher: Springer Milan
Published in: Sport Sciences for Health / Issue 2/2014
Print ISSN: 1824-7490
Electronic ISSN: 1825-1234
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-014-0184-y

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Effects of sedentary condition and longterm physical activity on postural balance and strength responses in elderly subjects

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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