Impact of Core Strengthening Exercise Program on Balance, Functional Ability, Physical Activity Levels, Fear of Falling, and Risk of Falls in Healthy Older Women: Study Protocol for a Randomized Control Trial
Oral Presentation
Paper ID : 2041-SSRC
Authors
Fatemeh Sadat Darroudi1 , Behnaz Shahtahmassebi 2 , Ahmad Ebrahimi Atri3 , Jeffrey J Hebert4 , Sedigheh Kamali1
1دانشجوی کارشناسی ارشد آسیب شناسی ورزشی و حرکات اصلاحی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد
2استادیار آسیب شناسی ورزشی و حرکات اصلاحی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد
3دانشیار آسیب شناسی ورزشی و حرکات اصلاحی، دانشکده علوم ورزشی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد
4Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada/College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
Abstract
Background
Aging is closely linked to the gradual decline of the body's functional systems. This decline contributes to impaired balance, reduced functional ability, decreased physical activity levels, increased susceptibility to falls, and early mortality in older adults. Consequently, enhancing fall prevention strategies becomes a crucial healthcare focus for promoting and maintaining an active lifestyle among older adults. Current research emphasizes that core muscles play a crucial role in improving muscle size, and strength, and thereby significantly contributing to the reduction or prevention of the fear of falling and the risk of falls. While core muscle strengthening exercises are recently recommended in older populations, there is a need for further investigation into the impact of core muscle strengthening exercise program on balance, functional ability, physical activity levels, fear of falling, and the risk of falls in older adults.
Aim
This study aims to investigate the impact of core strengthening exercise program on balance, functional ability, physical activity levels, fear of falling, and risk of falls in healthy older women.
Method
Using a single-blinded parallel-group randomized controlled trial design, 60 older adults (≥60 years) will be randomly allocated to a 12-week exercise program comprising walking and balance exercises with or without core muscle strengthening exercises (30 per group). Balance (Berg Balance Scale), functional ability (The Functional Movement Screen), physical activity levels (International Physical Activity Questionnaire)), fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale-International), and the risk of falls (Falls Risk Assessment Tool) will be considered as the primary outcome measures. All outcome measures will be administered at baseline, week 6, and week 12. Following the intention-to-treat principle, linear mixed models will be applied to estimate values for missing data based on the available scores, ensuring the inclusion of all participants in the analyses.
Discussion
The trial is anticipated to provide further support for the significant role of core strengthening in mitigating or preventing the risk of falls. The expected outcomes highlight the effectiveness of the comprehensive core muscle strengthening exercise program in enhancing balance, improving functional abilities, alleviating the fear of falling, and minimizing the overall risk of falling in healthy elderly women.
Aging is closely linked to the gradual decline of the body's functional systems. This decline contributes to impaired balance, reduced functional ability, decreased physical activity levels, increased susceptibility to falls, and early mortality in older adults. Consequently, enhancing fall prevention strategies becomes a crucial healthcare focus for promoting and maintaining an active lifestyle among older adults. Current research emphasizes that core muscles play a crucial role in improving muscle size, and strength, and thereby significantly contributing to the reduction or prevention of the fear of falling and the risk of falls. While core muscle strengthening exercises are recently recommended in older populations, there is a need for further investigation into the impact of core muscle strengthening exercise program on balance, functional ability, physical activity levels, fear of falling, and the risk of falls in older adults.
Aim
This study aims to investigate the impact of core strengthening exercise program on balance, functional ability, physical activity levels, fear of falling, and risk of falls in healthy older women.
Method
Using a single-blinded parallel-group randomized controlled trial design, 60 older adults (≥60 years) will be randomly allocated to a 12-week exercise program comprising walking and balance exercises with or without core muscle strengthening exercises (30 per group). Balance (Berg Balance Scale), functional ability (The Functional Movement Screen), physical activity levels (International Physical Activity Questionnaire)), fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale-International), and the risk of falls (Falls Risk Assessment Tool) will be considered as the primary outcome measures. All outcome measures will be administered at baseline, week 6, and week 12. Following the intention-to-treat principle, linear mixed models will be applied to estimate values for missing data based on the available scores, ensuring the inclusion of all participants in the analyses.
Discussion
The trial is anticipated to provide further support for the significant role of core strengthening in mitigating or preventing the risk of falls. The expected outcomes highlight the effectiveness of the comprehensive core muscle strengthening exercise program in enhancing balance, improving functional abilities, alleviating the fear of falling, and minimizing the overall risk of falling in healthy elderly women.
Keywords