The performance of balance exercises during daily tooth brushing is not sufficient to improve balance and muscle strength in healthy older adults

BMC Geriatrics

Gerd Göstemeyer¹  Thomas Muehlbauer²  Urs Granacher³  Markus Gruber⁴  Stefanie Gruber⁴ 

[1]Department of Operative and Preventive Dentistry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

[2]Division of Movement and Training Sciences, Biomechanics of Sport, University of Duisburg- Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany

[3]Division of Training and Movement Sciences, Research Focus Cognition Sciences, University of Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, Bldg 12, 14469, Potsdam, Germany

[4]Human Performance Research Centre, Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany

关键词: Balance;    Daily life;    Exercise;    Healthy aging;    Mobility;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12877-021-02206-w

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHigh 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.ObjectiveThe 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.MethodsFifty-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]).ResultsIrrespective 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.ConclusionsThe 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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY