Effect of long-term exercise training on static postural control in older adults: a cross-sectional study

Author: Shao-Jun Wang1 2, Dong-Qing Xu2, Li-Na Su1, Jing Xian Li3
Affiliation:
1 Institute of Physical Education, North Minzu University , Yinchuan, China.
2 Graduate School, Tianjin University of Sport , Tianjin, China.
3 School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa , Ottawa, Canada.
Conference/Journal: Res Sports Med
Date published: 2020 Jul 20
Other: Pages: 1-10 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1080/15438627.2020.1795661. , Word Count: 169


We examined the effects of long-term exercise on age-related decline in static balance control through centre-of-pressure (CoP) measurements of four groups of participants: older controls, younger controls, older Tai Chi exercisers and older joggers. The participants stood quietly in a tandem stance on a force platform for 30 s with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). The older controls showed remarkably larger CoP and EC/EO ratios than younger controls and older Tai Chi exercisers. The EC/EO ratios of velocity in the mediolateral direction of older joggers were significantly smaller than those of older controls. Results suggest that the static balance of older controls showed a significant decline caused by age-related changes. Long-term Tai Chi and jogging, particularly the former, contributed to static balance control in older people. Older adults relied more on visual information in static postural control than young people. Tai Chi would be an ideal exercise for improving static balance in older people.

KEYWORDS: Jogging; Tai Chi; centre of pressure; postural control; vision.

PMID: 32686490 DOI: 10.1080/15438627.2020.1795661

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