Musculoskeletal strength, balance performance, and self-efficacy in elderly ving tsun chinese martial art practitioners: implications for fall prevention.

Shirley S M Fong,H W Lee,X Guo,Karen P Y Liu,Priscillia L Lam,Joanne W Y Chung,Shamay S M Ng,Marco Y C Pang

doi:10.1155/2014/402314

Abstract

Objectives. To (1) compare the bone strength, lower limb muscular strength, functional balance performance, and balance self-efficacy between Ving Tsun (VT) martial art practitioners and nonpractitioners and (2) identify the associations between lower limb muscular strength, functional balance performance, and balance self-efficacy among the VT-trained participants. Methods. Thirty-five VT practitioners (mean age ± SD = 62.7 ± 13.3 years) and 49 nonpractitioners (mean age ± SD = 65.9 ± 10.5 years) participated in the study. The bone strength of the distal radius, lower limb muscular strength, functional balance performance, and balance self-efficacy were assessed using an ultrasound bone sonometer, the five times sit-to-stand test (FTSTS), the Berg balance scale (BBS), and the Chinese version of the activities-specific balance confidence scale, respectively. A multivariate analysis of covariance was performed to compare all the outcome variables between the two groups. Results. Elderly VT practitioners had higher radial bone strength on the dominant side (P < 0.05), greater lower limb muscular strength (P = 0.001), better functional balance performance (P = 0.003), and greater balance confidence (P < 0.001) than the nonpractitioners. Additionally, only the FTSTS time revealed a significant association with the BBS score (r = −0.575, P = 0.013). Conclusions. VT may be a suitable health-maintenance exercise for the elderly. Our findings may inspire the development of VT fall-prevention exercises for the community-dwelling healthy elderly.

Highlights

Falls are common among the elderly and may compromise senior people’s physical and psychological health [1]
We aimed to identify the associations between lower limb muscular strength, functional balance performance, and balance self-efficacy among the Ving Tsun (VT)-trained participants
The proportion of male participants was significantly higher in the VT group than the control group (P = 0.001)

Summary

Introduction

Falls are common among the elderly and may compromise senior people’s physical and psychological health [1]. Elderly people who have experienced falls may have greater fear of falling and less confidence in their balance. As a result, they may be less active, which can negatively affect their lower limb muscular strength [3, 4]. VT involves progressive training with a lot of relatively highimpact osteogenic activities (e.g., wooden dummy training) and functional balance tasks (e.g., sticking-hand exercises) [8]. All of these potential physically beneficial effects are underexamined.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion