Back to Search Start Over

Isokinetic Muscle Strength and Postural Sway of Recreationally Active Older Adults vs. Master Road Runners

Authors :
Henrique V. Taveira
Claudio A. B. de Lira
Marilia S. Andrade
Ricardo B. Viana
Hirofumi Tanaka
Lee Hill
Pantelis T. Nikolaidis
Beat Knechtle
Thomas Rosemann
Rodrigo L. Vancini
Source :
Frontiers in Physiology, Vol 12 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2021.

Abstract

Trunk muscle strength and control is an important prerequisite for everyday activities among elderly people decreasing the predisposition to falls. High levels of physical exercise performed by older athletes could offer benefits to core/trunk muscle strength and postural control compared with recreational physical activities and among elderly people with lower levels of physical activity. The present study aimed to compare trunk muscle strength and postural control of older running athletes vs. older physically active adults. Participants were master road runners (RUN, n = 15, six women, 64.3 ± 3.6 years) and physically active elderly (control group, CON, n = 15, six women, 65.4 ± 5.0 years) people that were submitted to the evaluations: esthesiometer, posturography (force plate), and isokinetic test (Biodex dynamometer) of trunk muscle extension and flexion. RUN presented higher values for relative peak torque of trunk extensor muscles at 60°/s (p = 0.046) and 180°/s (p = 0.007) and relative average power during trunk extension at 60°/s (p = 0.008) and 180°/s (p = 0.004) compared to CON. CON had a higher medial-lateral oscillation speed of the center of pressure in the stable condition with eyes closed (p = 0.004) compared to RUN. RUN presented higher isokinetic torque of extensor trunk muscles and better postural control than CON. This supposedly could help with postural control and balance and contribute to the prevention of falls among the elderly. The practice of running systematically by master athletes may partially explained our findings.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1664042X
Volume :
12
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Frontiers in Physiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.23c4caacb15d456c8cf6c4cd2e582bce
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.623150