Effect of static stretching and strength exercise of the lower limb on the balance function of the elderly / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:After entering the aging society, improving the balance function to prevent fals and reduce incidence of fractures in the elderly has received widespread attentions in al aspects. OBJECTIVE: To design a training program for the elderly, involving static stretching and strength exercise of lower limb, in order to study the combined effect on the balance function of the elderly. METHODS: Static stretching and strength training of the lower limbs were carried out in 28 elderly persons who met the inclusion criteria for 3 months, three times a week, once for 60 minutes. Before and after exercise training, the static balance ability with foot standing, eyes open and eyes closed was evaluated using the PRO-KIN balance instrument; the dynamic balance ability and lower limb strength were evaluated using treadmil test with eyes closed and chair-stand test. Evaluation results before and after exercise were compared and anayzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the eyes open state, the average X-axis coordinate and exercise-induced elipse area at the center of pressure were significant different before and after exercise (P < 0.01); the mean velocities at the left and right direction were of significant difference before and after exercise (P < 0.05); the results of treadmil test with eyes closed and chair-stand test also presented very significant differences before and after exercise (P < 0.01). Static stretching combined with lower limb strength exercise can effectively improve the balance function and lower limb strength of the elderly, which can be used as an effective exercise way to prevent the fals in the elderly.