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Background: Falls are the leading cause of injury among adults ≥ 65 years of age. Participation in physical activity (PA) is associated with improved balance, though it is impact in the middle-age population is not well understood. Aim: The purpose of the current study was to examine the influence of PA intensity on static balance in middle-aged and older aged individuals. Methods: Included were middle-aged adults (40–64 years) and older adults (≥ 65 years) from the 2003–2004 years of the National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey. Light physical activity (LPA) and moderate–vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were collected via accelerometer and static balance via the Romberg Test of Standing Balance. Results: No significant odds ratio relationship was found between MVPA or LPA and having good static balance in the middle-aged population; 1.04 (95% CI 0.95, 1.13) p= 0.427 and 1.05 (95% CI 0.97, 1.14) p= 0.182, respectively. Whereas, in older adults, every 60-min increase in LPA was significantly associated with 28% higher odds of good balance (95% CI 1.15, 1.41; p< 0.001), and every 10-min increase in MVPA with 25% higher odds of good balance (95% CI 1.08, 1.45; p= 0.006). Discussion: LPA and MVPA were not associated with good static balance in middle-aged adults, but in older adults LPA was significantly associated with good static balance. Conclusion: A significant relationship is found between age and fall risk, which is a major concern in the aging population.

AbstractWhile metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes are costly and deadly to the current population, they are also extremely detrimental to the next generation. Much of the current literature focuses on the negative impact of poor maternal choices on offspring disease, while there is little work examining maternal behaviors that may improve offspring health. Research has shown that voluntary maternal exercise in mouse models improves metabolic function in offspring. In this study, we hypothesized that controlled maternal exercise in a mouse model will effect positive change on offspring obesity and glucose homeostasis. Female mice were separated into three groups: home cage, sedentary, and exercise. The sedentary home cage group was not removed from the home cage, while the sedentary wheel group was removed from the cage and placed in an immobile wheel apparatus. The exercise group was removed from the home cage and run on the same wheel apparatus but with the motor activated at 5–10 m/min for 1 h/d prior to and during pregnancy. Offspring were subjected to oral glucose tolerance testing and body composition analysis. There was no significant difference in offspring glucose tolerance or body composition as a consequence of the maternal exercise intervention compared to the sedentary wheel group. There were no marked negative consequences of the maternal controlled exercise intervention. Further research should clarify the potential advantages of the controlled exercise model and improve experimental techniques to facilitate translation of this research to human applications.