Abstract
Impaired balance and lower body weakness are the main causes of falls, which are considered to be the major cause of fractures and head injuries in the elderly and are recognised as a serious health problem. The aim of this study is to observe the effect of eccentric training, introducing new technologies (gliding discs), on body composition, lower body strength, balance and quality of life. A quasi-experimental study was carried out with 56 healthy participants who were divided into an experimental group (n = 31) who underwent the protocol consisting of 12 training sessions and a control group (n = 25) who did not undergo the training. Before and after the intervention, all participants underwent a measurement of body composition, the SJ jump, balance with accelerometry and quality of life with the Short Form 12 Health Survey. In the experimental group, statistically significant improvements were found in the variables balance and lower body strength. The application of this training protocol improves lower body strength and the ability to control balance in the adult population.
Highlights
Balance impairment is considered to be responsible for 10–25% of falls [1]
Another risk factor for falls is lower extremity weakness, and according to Graafmans et al [2], this weakness is a predictor of future falls [2]
A quasi-experimental study was conducted with a control group (CG) in a convenience sample, comparing the scores on the measures of the dependent variables before and after the intervention, both in the experimental group (EG) and in the CG to compare the possible effects of the programme
Summary
Balance impairment is considered to be responsible for 10–25% of falls [1] Another risk factor for falls is lower extremity weakness, and according to Graafmans et al [2], this weakness is a predictor of future falls [2]. Falls are the major cause of fractures and head injuries in the elderly, especially in women [3]. They are recognised as a serious health problem that can cause serious injuries such as fractures or head injuries and even death [4,5]. Known risk factors are age, previous falls, arthritis, cognitive disorders, dependence in daily activities, depression, gait and balance dysfunctions, medication, muscle weakness, and visual and sensory impairments [6,7,8].
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