Research and News
Posts tagged falls
Thera-Band exercise reduces falls and improves quality of life in women with osteoporosis
May 11th
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Persons with osteoporosis are at higher risk of fracture after a fall. It’s well-known that exercise is an important aspect of managing osteoporosis, yet there are few studies evaluating the effects of balance exercises on actually preventing falls in women with osteoporosis. The Academy Blog recently featured a study showing that elastic resistance training can reduce the risk factors associated with falls, but did not examine actual fall rates.
Researchers in Brazil investigated the effects of a year-long balance training program on quality of life, balance, and falls in older women with osteoporosis. The women were randomly assigned to an exercise group or control group. Those in the exercise group performed a balance training program 1 hour per week, supplemented with home exercises for 12 months. The program consisted of 15 minutes of warm-up and stretching exercises, 15 minutes of walking, and 30 minutes of dynamic and static balance training exercises. The same exercises were repeated at home 3 times a week for 30 minutes. The researchers used a previously published exercise protocol that showed a significant decrease in falls in Japanese older adults. More >
Fall Prevention Conference Features Thera-Band Products
Aug 6th
Dr. Michael Rogers, Chair and Professor of the Department of Human Performance Studies at Wichita State University recently gave several presentations at the Louisiana Fall Prevention Conference in Lafayette. The conference, sponsored by the Louisiana Office of Public Health, was attended by over 60 representatives of healthcare, government, and senior centers. In addition to providing the keynote address, Dr. Rogers demonstrated his scientifically-proven fall prevention program, Standing Strong in several workshops. The Standing Strong program features Thera-Band products such as elastic bands and Stability Trainers to progressively challenge the systems controlling balance. Rogers noted, “Standing Strong is a practical and easy-to-implement program using readily available equipment. We use the elastic bands for both strength training and balance training because they are so convenient and versatile.” See photos from the event here from Flikr.
Simple Exercises to Prevent Falls
Apr 6th
Researchers in Portugal investigated the effects of 2 simple strengthening exercises using Thera-Band® resistance bands. The randomized, controlled study , published in Geriatrics and Gerontology International, included 48 institutionalized older adults. Subjects were tested before and after the program on ankle strength, functional mobility, and balance. The 2 exercises, ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, were performed 3 times a week for 6 weeks, and gradually progressed by increasing the color level of the Thera-Band resistance.
Thera-Band Ankle Plantarflexion
After 6 weeks, the researchers found significant increases in ankle strength (dorsiflexion and plantarflexion), as well as significant increases in functional mobility and balance. The gain in ankle strength was significantly associated with improvement in dynamic balance. There was no significant change in the control group. The researchers concluded, the low cost strength training program may provide a ”modest degree of protection from injurious falls among these institutionalized older adults.”
Riberio et al. Impact of low cost strength training of dorsi- and plantar flexors on balance and functional mobility in institutionalized elderly people.Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2009 Mar;9(1):75-80.
