TY  - JOUR
A1  - Granacher, Urs
A1  - Lacroix, Andre
A1  - Roettger, Katrin
A1  - Gollhofer, Albert
A1  - Mühlbauer, Thomas
T1  - Relationships between trunk muscle strength, spinal mobility, and balance performance in older adults
JF  - Journal of aging and physical activity
N2  - This study investigated associations between variables of trunk muscle strength (TMS), spinal mobility, and balance in seniors. Thirty-four seniors (sex: 18 female, 16 male; age: 70 +/- 4 years; activity level: 13 +/- 7 hr/week) were tested for maximal isometric strength (MIS) of the trunk extensors, flexors, lateral flexors, rotators, spinal mobility, and steady-state, reactive, and proactive balance. Significant correlations were detected between all measures of TMS and static steady-state balance (r = .43.57, p < .05). Significant correlations were observed between specific measures of TMS and dynamic steady-state balance (r = .42.55, p < .05). No significant correlations were found between all variables of TMS and reactive/proactive balance and between all variables of spinal mobility and balance. Regression analyses revealed that TMS explains between 1-33% of total variance of the respective balance parameters. Findings indicate that TMS is related to measures of steady-state balance which may imply that TMS promoting exercises should be integrated in strength training for seniors.
KW  - elderly
KW  - core
KW  - gait
KW  - postural balance
KW  - force
KW  - physical performance
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1123/JAPA.2013-0108
SN  - 1063-8652
SN  - 1543-267X
VL  - 22
IS  - 4
SP  - 490
EP  - 498
PB  - Human Kinetics Publ.
CY  - Champaign
ER  - 
TY  - GEN
A1  - Granacher, Urs
A1  - Lacroix, Andre
A1  - Mühlbauer, Thomas
A1  - Roettger, Katrin
A1  - Gollhofer, Albert
T1  - Effects of core instability strength training on trunk muscle strength, spinal mobility, dynamic balance and functional mobility in older adults
N2  - Background: Age-related postural misalignment, balance deficits and strength/power losses are associated with impaired functional mobility and an increased risk of falling in seniors. Core instability strength training (CIT) involves exercises that are challenging for both trunk muscles and postural control and may thus have the potential to induce benefits in trunk muscle strength, spinal mobility and balance performance. Objective: The objective was to investigate the effects of CIT on measures of trunk muscle strength, spinal mobility, dynamic balance and functional mobility in seniors. Methods: Thirty-two older adults were randomly assigned to an intervention group (INT; n = 16, aged 70.8 +/- 4.1 years) that conducted a 9-week progressive CIT or to a control group (n = 16, aged 70.2 +/- 4.5 years). Maximal isometric strength of the trunk flexors/extensors/lateral flexors (right, left)/rotators (right, left) as well as of spinal mobility in the sagittal and the coronal plane was measured before and after the intervention program. Dynamic balance (i.e. walking 10 m on an optoelectric walkway, the Functional Reach test) and functional mobility (Timed Up and Go test) were additionally tested. Results: Program compliance was excellent with participants of the INT group completing 92% of the training sessions. Significant group x test interactions were found for the maximal isometric strength of the trunk flexors (34%, p < 0.001), extensors (21%, p < 0.001), lateral flexors (right: 48%, p < 0.001; left: 53%, p < 0.001) and left rotators (42%, p < 0.001) in favor of the INT group. Further, training-related improvements were found for spinal mobility in the sagittal (11%, p < 0.001) and coronal plane (11%, p = 0.06) directions, for stride velocity (9%, p < 0.05), the coefficient of variation in stride velocity (31%, p < 0.05), the Functional Reach test (20%, p < 0.05) and the Timed Up and Go test (4%, p < 0.05) in favor of the INT group. Conclusion: CIT proved to be a feasible exercise program for seniors with a high adherence rate. Age-related deficits in measures of trunk muscle strength, spinal mobility, dynamic balance and functional mobility can be mitigated by CIT. This training regimen could be used as an adjunct or even alternative to traditional balance and/or resistance training.
T3  - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe - 332 
KW  - elderly
KW  - gait
KW  - muscle strength
KW  - physical performance
KW  - postural balance
Y1  - 2017
U6  - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-399994
ER  -