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The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of a resistance exercise program consisting of elastic band exercises to balance, strength and quality of life of community-dwelling elders. The hypothesis of the study is that the people training with elastic bands will show benefits on the aforementioned areas.
The elderly are, according to research, prone to an accelerated rate of loss of balance, particularly after the age of 60. This loss of balance could translate to injurious falls which could lead to trauma, fear of falling or even hospitalization. It has been shown in multiple studies that strength training can provide health benefits to the general population improving strength, balance, postural control, bone health and quality of life.
Elastic band exercises could be applied to a number of different settings due to the comparably low cost of equipment and due to the easiness of handling the equipment. In previous studies, elastic band exercise programs, varied in design, have been shown to provide multiple benefits to elderly people. In this study, it is proposed that in a Community Center for Elderly People, which are widely established in Greece, a group of eligible community dwelling elderly could exercise under supervision using elastic bands in a group setting.
The recruitment will take place in a Community Center for Elders. A group of people aged over 65, able and cleared to participate in strength training will participate. Information sheet and consent form will be provided to all participants. A pilot randomized intervention study is designed to assess the efficacy of elastic band resistance training as means to improve balance, strength and quality of life where the sample will be randomized to one of two following study groups:
Assessment will be obtained in two-time periods: prior to the program and after the program.
The exercise program will take place twice-weekly for eight weeks.
Participants will be assessed using Berg Balance Scale, Gait Speed, Timed Up and Go, 30 Seconds Chair Stand Test, Handgrip Strength, Knee Extensors and Flexors Strength, Fall Efficacy Scale.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Program | Experimental | Participants will participate in a group resistance exercise program for 8 weeks, using elastic bands. |
|
| Unchanged Activities of Daily Living | No Intervention | Participants will be asked not to change their activities of daily living for the duration of the research. |
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elastic Band Resistance Exercises | Other | 8 Warm-Up Exercises followed by 10 Elastic Band Exercises followed by 8 Post-Workout Exercises. |
|
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Berg Balance Scale | The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is used to objectively determine a patient's ability (or inability) to safely balance during a series of predetermined tasks. It is a 14 item list with each item consisting of a five-point ordinal scale ranging from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating the lowest level of function and 4 the highest level of function and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. It does not include the assessment of gait. | At baseline and after the end of the 8th week of the training program, at week number 9 |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Gait Speed 4 Meters | The speed with which a patient walks for 4 meters. Gait speed is a metric that is extremely valuable for practitioners when examining aspects of functional mobility in their patients. Additionally, given its ability to be influenced by multiple body systems (i.e. central nervous system, musculoskeletal system), gait speed is often used as a predictor of overall health and function, especially in older adults. |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K Kontonikas | Contact | 694062554 | mscphys21004@uniwa.gr | |
| N Chrisagis, Phd | Contact | nchrisagis@uniwa.gr |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| K Kontonikas | University West Attica | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elderly Community Center | Athens | Attica | Greece |
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| At baseline and after the end of the 8th week of the training program, at week number 9 |
| Timed Up and Go | The patient is asked to stand from a sitting position, walk for three meters, turn around and return to seat. The purpose of this is to determine fall risk and measure the progress of balance, sit to stand and walking. It is a simple screening test that is a sensitive and specific measure of probability for falls among older adults. | At baseline and after the end of the 8th week of the training program, at week number 9 |
| 30 Seconds Chair Stand Test | Patient is asked to alternate between sitting and standing for 30 seconds. The 30 second chair stand test is for testing leg strength and endurance in older adults. | At baseline and after the end of the 8th week of the training program, at week number 9 |
| Handgrip Strength | Grip Strength is measured by use of a Grip Dynamometer. Grip strength is a measure of muscular strength or the maximum force/tension generated by one's forearm muscles. It can be used as a screening tool for the measurement of upper body strength and overall strength. | Prior to the 1st week of the training program, After the end of the 8th week of the training program |
| Lower Limb Strength (Flexors - Extensors of Knee) | Muscle Strength will be measured by use of Dynamometer. An assessment of muscle strength is typically performed as part of a patient's objective assessment and is an important component of the physical exam that can reveal information about neurologic deficits. It is used to evaluate weakness and can be effective in differentiating true weakness from imbalance or poor endurance. | At baseline and after the end of the 8th week of the training program, at week number 9 |
| Fall Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) | The Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) is a measure of "fear of falling" or "concerns about falling", developed as a part of the Prevention of Falls Network Europe (ProFaNE) project from 2003 to 2006 by Todd et al. It is a 16 item questionnaire, useful to the researchers and clinicians interested in fear of falling, with a score ranging from minimum 16 (no concern about falling) to maximum 64 (severe concern about falling). The FES-I is intended to be used in adult population to measure the level of concern about falling during social and physical activities inside and outside the home whether or not the person actually does the activity. | At baseline and after the end of the 8th week of the training program, at week number 9 |