Comparing the Effects of 8-week Exercise Programs in the Sagittal and Frontal Planes on the Postural Sway of Elderly Men

Abstract

Background and Aims Exercises are mostly used to control balance and reduce the risk of falling in the elderly. However, the effect of exercise in the frontal plane has been less studied. Therefore, this study aims to compare the effect of 8 week exercises in the sagittal and frontal planes on the postural sway of elderly men. Methods In this quasi-experimental study, 24 elderly males (Mean age: 67.21±1.56 years) were divided into two intervention groups of sagittal-plane and frontal-plane exercises. The exercises were performed for 8 weeks. The center of pressure (CoP) parameters in two groups before and after the intervention were evaluated using a foot scanner system. Finally, the ANCOVA was used for data analysis. P≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The results showed a significant decrease in CoP perturbations in the Y-axis at the medial-lateral, anterior-posterior, and lateral-medial directions in the frontal plane group compared to the sagittal group (P<0.05). Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the CoP area after perturbations at the medial-lateral, anterior-posterior, and lateral-medial directions in the frontal group compared to the sagittal group (P<0.05). Conclusion It seems that exercises in the frontal plane can reduce postural sway in elderly men compared to sagittal-plane exercises. Therefore, it is recommended to emphasize the exercises of the hip abductor and adductor muscles in the frontal plane in designing exercise protocols for elderly men.