TitleBiomechanical demands of exercises commonly performed by older adults in falls prevention programs.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsStutzenberger, LR, Norcross, MF, Pollard, CD, Hagen, TM, Mulligan, CMS, Huang, Y-L, Crowell, CNBrown
JournalClin Biomech (Bristol, Avon)
Volume101
Pagination105863
Date Published12/2022
ISSN1879-1271
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tailored, challenging and progressed exercise programs addressing risk factors are recommended for preventing falls in community-dwelling older adults. Knowing the biomechanical demands of exercises commonly performed in efficacious falls prevention programs provides evidence for exercise prescription.

METHODS: Twenty-one non-sedentary older adults (10 men, 11 women, mean age 69 [SD 5] years) performed five standing exercises (hip abduction, side-step, squat, forward lunge, and side lunge). A biomechanical analysis of the dominant limb was performed to calculate peak joint angles and net joint moments at the ankle, knee and hip in multiple planes. Repeated-measures one-way analyses of variance followed by post-hoc comparisons were performed to identify differences in the calculated variables between exercises.

FINDINGS: Peak hip abduction moments during hip abduction were greater than during the forward lunge and squat (P < 0.001). During the side-step, peak plantar flexion moments were greater than the squat and peak hip abduction moments were greater than the squat and forward lunge (P < 0.001). During the squat, peak hip flexion was greatest (P < 0.001) while peak plantar flexion (P < 0.001) and hip abduction moments (P ≤ 0.002) were less than all other exercises. During the forward lunge, peak hip extension moments (P < 0.001) were greatest. During the side lunge, peak knee extension moments were greater than all other exercises (P < 0.001).

INTERPRETATION: These biomechanical data will allow clinicians to tailor exercises for falls prevention to efficiently challenge but not overload muscle groups and minimize exercise prescription redundancies.

DOI10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2022.105863
Alternate JournalClin Biomech (Bristol, Avon)
PubMed ID36549050