The performance of balance exercises during daily tooth brushing is not sufficient to improve balance and muscle strength in healthy older adults
Abstract Background High prevalence rates have been reported for physical inactivity, mobility limitations, and falls in older adults. Home-based exercise might be an adequate means to increase physical activity by improving health- (i.e., muscle strength) and skill-related components of physical fi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Geriatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02206-w |
| _version_ | 1818446460916596736 |
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| author | Urs Granacher Thomas Muehlbauer Gerd Göstemeyer Stefanie Gruber Markus Gruber |
| author_facet | Urs Granacher Thomas Muehlbauer Gerd Göstemeyer Stefanie Gruber Markus Gruber |
| author_sort | Urs Granacher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background High prevalence rates have been reported for physical inactivity, mobility limitations, and falls in older adults. Home-based exercise might be an adequate means to increase physical activity by improving health- (i.e., muscle strength) and skill-related components of physical fitness (i.e., balance), particularly in times of restricted physical activity due to pandemics. Objective The objective of this study was to examine the effects of home-based balance exercises conducted during daily tooth brushing on measures of balance and muscle strength in healthy older adults. Methods Fifty-one older adults were randomly assigned to a balance exercise group (n = 27; age: 65.1 ± 1.1 years) or a passive control group (n = 24; age: 66.2 ± 3.3 years). The intervention group conducted balance exercises over a period of eight weeks twice daily for three minutes each during their daily tooth brushing routine. Pre- and post-intervention, tests were included for the assessment of static steady-state balance (i.e., Romberg test), dynamic steady-state balance (i.e., 10-m single and dual-task walk test using a cognitive and motor interference task), proactive balance (i.e., Timed-Up-and-Go Test [TUG], Functional-Reach-Test [FRT]), and muscle strength (i.e., Chair-Rise-Test [CRT]). Results Irrespective of group, the statistical analysis revealed significant main effects for time (pre vs. post) for dual-task gait speed (p < .001, 1.12 ≤ d ≤ 2.65), TUG (p < .001, d = 1.17), FRT (p = .002, d = 0.92), and CRT (p = .002, d = 0.94) but not for single-task gait speed and for the Romberg-Test. No significant group × time interactions were found for any of the investigated variables. Conclusions The applied lifestyle balance training program conducted twice daily during tooth brushing routines appears not to be sufficient in terms of exercise dosage and difficulty level to enhance balance and muscle strength in healthy adults aged 60–72 years. Consequently, structured balance training programs using higher exercise dosages and/or more difficult balance tasks are recommended for older adults to improve balance and muscle strength. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T19:48:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0821c9c88d7747c38be78c7486bc8e64 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2318 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T19:48:05Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Geriatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-0821c9c88d7747c38be78c7486bc8e642022-12-21T22:49:29ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182021-04-012111910.1186/s12877-021-02206-wThe performance of balance exercises during daily tooth brushing is not sufficient to improve balance and muscle strength in healthy older adultsUrs Granacher0Thomas Muehlbauer1Gerd Göstemeyer2Stefanie Gruber3Markus Gruber4Division of Training and Movement Sciences, Research Focus Cognition Sciences, University of PotsdamDivision of Movement and Training Sciences, Biomechanics of Sport, University of Duisburg- EssenDepartment of Operative and Preventive Dentistry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin BerlinHuman Performance Research Centre, Department of Sport Science, University of KonstanzHuman Performance Research Centre, Department of Sport Science, University of KonstanzAbstract Background High prevalence rates have been reported for physical inactivity, mobility limitations, and falls in older adults. Home-based exercise might be an adequate means to increase physical activity by improving health- (i.e., muscle strength) and skill-related components of physical fitness (i.e., balance), particularly in times of restricted physical activity due to pandemics. Objective The objective of this study was to examine the effects of home-based balance exercises conducted during daily tooth brushing on measures of balance and muscle strength in healthy older adults. Methods Fifty-one older adults were randomly assigned to a balance exercise group (n = 27; age: 65.1 ± 1.1 years) or a passive control group (n = 24; age: 66.2 ± 3.3 years). The intervention group conducted balance exercises over a period of eight weeks twice daily for three minutes each during their daily tooth brushing routine. Pre- and post-intervention, tests were included for the assessment of static steady-state balance (i.e., Romberg test), dynamic steady-state balance (i.e., 10-m single and dual-task walk test using a cognitive and motor interference task), proactive balance (i.e., Timed-Up-and-Go Test [TUG], Functional-Reach-Test [FRT]), and muscle strength (i.e., Chair-Rise-Test [CRT]). Results Irrespective of group, the statistical analysis revealed significant main effects for time (pre vs. post) for dual-task gait speed (p < .001, 1.12 ≤ d ≤ 2.65), TUG (p < .001, d = 1.17), FRT (p = .002, d = 0.92), and CRT (p = .002, d = 0.94) but not for single-task gait speed and for the Romberg-Test. No significant group × time interactions were found for any of the investigated variables. Conclusions The applied lifestyle balance training program conducted twice daily during tooth brushing routines appears not to be sufficient in terms of exercise dosage and difficulty level to enhance balance and muscle strength in healthy adults aged 60–72 years. Consequently, structured balance training programs using higher exercise dosages and/or more difficult balance tasks are recommended for older adults to improve balance and muscle strength.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02206-wBalanceDaily lifeExerciseHealthy agingMobility |
| spellingShingle | Urs Granacher Thomas Muehlbauer Gerd Göstemeyer Stefanie Gruber Markus Gruber The performance of balance exercises during daily tooth brushing is not sufficient to improve balance and muscle strength in healthy older adults BMC Geriatrics Balance Daily life Exercise Healthy aging Mobility |
| title | The performance of balance exercises during daily tooth brushing is not sufficient to improve balance and muscle strength in healthy older adults |
| title_full | The performance of balance exercises during daily tooth brushing is not sufficient to improve balance and muscle strength in healthy older adults |
| title_fullStr | The performance of balance exercises during daily tooth brushing is not sufficient to improve balance and muscle strength in healthy older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | The performance of balance exercises during daily tooth brushing is not sufficient to improve balance and muscle strength in healthy older adults |
| title_short | The performance of balance exercises during daily tooth brushing is not sufficient to improve balance and muscle strength in healthy older adults |
| title_sort | performance of balance exercises during daily tooth brushing is not sufficient to improve balance and muscle strength in healthy older adults |
| topic | Balance Daily life Exercise Healthy aging Mobility |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-021-02206-w |
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