The Effect and Durability of a Combined Exercise Training on Walking Speed, Balance and Fear of Falling in Sedentary Older Adults: A Randomized Control Trial

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MA of physical education & sport science- Corrective Exercises and Sports Injuries, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Sports Biomechanics and Motor Behavior, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

10.22084/rsr.2024.29261.1738

Abstract

Background and Aim: Aging is associated with balance and gait disorders. This study aimed to determine the effect and durability of combined exercise training on walking speed, balance, and fear of falling in sedentary older adults.
Methods: In this randomized control trial, 27 older adults participated, including 13 people in the training group and 14 individuals in the control group. Static balance, dynamic balance, walking speed, and fear of falling were assessed at the pretest and posttest stages and two months after the completion of the measurements at the posttest stage. The training group performed the exercises (strength + balanced + functional training) for eight weeks, three sessions per week. Repeated measures of ANOVA with Bonferroni's post hoc test were used to examine intra-group and inter-group changes. Statistical operations were performed with SPSS24 software.
Results: The results of the research showed that there is a significant difference between the two groups in the post-test period in the variables of fear of falling, static balance on a hard surface, static balance on a soft surface, the total score of static balance, dynamic balance and walking speed. Also, the results show that the effects of the exercises on the examined variables were permanent (p≤0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it seems that the use of multimodal sports exercises can have a positive effect on balance and walking speed, followed by reducing the risk of falling in the elderly, and these effects last after eight weeks.

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