@article{MuehlbauerGranacherBordeetal.2017,
  author    = {Muehlbauer, Thomas and Granacher, Urs and Borde, Ron and Hortobagyi, Tibor},
  title     = {Non-Discriminant Relationships between Leg Muscle Strength, Mass and Gait Performance in Healthy Young and Old Adults},
  series = {Gerontology},
  volume    = {64},
  journal   = {Gerontology},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Karger},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {0304-324X},
  doi       = {10.1159/000480150},
  pages     = {11 -- 18},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Background: Gait speed declines with increasing age, but it is unclear if gait speed preferentially correlates with leg muscle strength or mass. Objective: We determined the relationship between gait speed and (1) leg muscle strength measured at 3 lower extremity joints and (2) leg lean tissue mass (LTM) in healthy young (age: 25 years, n = 20) and old (age: 70 years, n = 20) adults. Methods: Subjects were tested for maximal isokinetic hip, knee, and ankle extension torque, leg LTM by bioimpedance, and gait performance (i.e., gait speed, stride length) at preferred and maximal gait speeds. Results: We found no evidence for a preferential relationship between gait performance and leg muscle strength compared with gait performance and leg LTM in healthy young and old adults. In old adults, hip extensor strength only predicted habitual gait speed (R-2 = 0.29, p = 0.015), whereas ankle plantarflexion strength only predicted maximal gait speed and stride length (both R-2 = 0.40, p = 0.003). Conclusions: Gait speed did not preferentially correlate with leg muscle strength or leg LTM, favoring neither outcome for predicting mobility. Thus, we recommend that both leg muscle strength and leg LTM should be tested and trained complementarily. Further, hip and ankle extension torque predicted gait performance, and thus we recommend to test and train healthy old adults by functional integrated multiarticular rather than monoarticular lower extremity strength exercises.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{GranacherMuehlbauerGoestemeyeretal.2021,
  author    = {Granacher, Urs and Muehlbauer, Thomas and G{\"o}stemeyer, Gerd and Gruber, Stefanie and Gruber, Markus},
  title     = {The performance of balance exercises during daily tooth brushing is not sufficient to improve balance and muscle strength in healthy older adults},
  series = {BMC Geriatrics},
  volume    = {21},
  journal   = {BMC Geriatrics},
  publisher = {BioMed Central},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {1471-2318},
  doi       = {10.1186/s12877-021-02206-w},
  pages     = {9},
  year      = {2021},
  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.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{WiesmeierDalinWehrleetal.2017,
  author    = {Wiesmeier, Isabella K. and Dalin, Daniela and Wehrle, Anja and Granacher, Urs and Muehlbauer, Thomas and Dietterle, J{\"o}rg and Weiller, Cornelius and Gollhofer, Albert and Maurer, Christoph},
  title     = {Balance training enhances vestibular function and reduces overactive proprioceptive feedback in elderly},
  series = {Frontiers in aging neuroscience},
  volume    = {9},
  journal   = {Frontiers in aging neuroscience},
  publisher = {Frontiers Research Foundation},
  address   = {Lausanne},
  issn      = {1663-4365},
  doi       = {10.3389/fnagi.2017.00273},
  pages     = {13},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Objectives: Postural control in elderly people is impaired by degradations of sensory, motor, and higher-level adaptive mechanisms. Here, we characterize the effects of a progressive balance training programon these postural control impairments using a brain network model based on system identification techniques. Methods and Material: We analyzed postural control of 35 healthy elderly subjects and compared findings to data from 35 healthy young volunteers. Eighteen elderly subjects performed a 10 week balance training conducted twice per week. Balance training was carried out in static and dynamic movement states, on support surfaces with different elastic compliances, under different visual conditions and motor tasks. Postural control was characterized by spontaneous sway and postural reactions to pseudorandom anterior-posterior tilts of the support surface. Data were interpreted using a parameter identification procedure based on a brain network model. Conclusion: Balance training reduced overactive proprioceptive feedback and restored vestibular orientation in elderly. Based on the assumption of a linear deterioration of postural control across the life span, the training effect can be extrapolated as a juvenescence of 10 years. This study points to a considerable benefit of a continuous balance training in elderly, even without any sensorimotor deficits.},
  language  = {en}
}