The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of long-term weighted vest
exercise on hip bone mass, functional ability and static balance in elderly women. This was
a within subject exercise intervention study and included a 6-month control period.
Twenty-three subjects (age 85 �� 6) were recruited and observed for 6-months, then debar a
9-month exercise program. Due to attrition during the control period, five subjects were
recruited to add to the exercise group. Training entailed three supervised exercise sessions
per week for nine-months designed to overload the lower extremity neuromuscular system.
Training stimulus was one of two sets of six to twelve repetitions using weighted vests for
progressive resistance. Measurements for bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed
using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (Hologic QDR-1000/W). Static balance
measurements were made using the Biodex Stability System. Functional ability tests
consisted of: leg strength and power (chair raises and sit to stand) and gait speed (tandem,
wide and narrow gait and circular path) and was assessed monthly for six months.
Comparisons were conducted using repeated measures analysis of variance. Significant
improvements were observed for chair raises 13%, sit to stand 13%, tandem gait 30%,
wide gait 22%, narrow gait 20% and circular path 20% following the exercise period. No
significant changes were detected (p>0.05) for BMD at the femoral neck and trochanter,
but BMD was maintained during the exercise period. Further, there was a trend for
improved body composition in the exercise versus the control period. Static balance did not
change following the observational or exercise period. In conclusion, a practical exercise
program of lower extremity training using weighted vests for resistance improves
functional ability in women over 75 years of age. Since improved may function transfer to
improved postural stability, these results have important implications for design of exercise
programs to reduce fall risk in the elderly. / Graduation date: 1997
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/34466 |
| Date | 09 May 1996 |
| Creators | Protiva, Karen W. |
| Contributors | Snow, Christine |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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