Whether or not to affiliate stretching with resistance training to improve equilibrium in the elderly

The object of this study was to evaluate the effect of resistance training and/or stretching on the equilibrium of older people. A group of forty-six older people were divided into 4 groups and given orientations about preventing falls: Control (C, n= 12); Stretching (S, n= 12); Resistance Training (RT, n= 13); Resistance Training and Stretching (RTS, n= 9). Resistance training and/or stretching exercises were given progressively on the lower limbs twice a week for twelve weeks. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) were applied in the first, sixth, and twelfth weeks, and then six weeks afterwards. The ANOVA was used for repeated post hoc Fisher measurements (p≤ 0.05) for comparison between groups during the four evaluations. In the twelfth week, the RTS group scored higher than the RT group on the BBS (55±1 vs 53±2, p= 0.03). At that time, the RTS group had also improved its DGI scores as compared to pre-training (23±2 vs 21±3; p= 0.0009). And after detraining, the DGI of the RTS group was superior when compared to its pre-training (23±1 vs 21±3; p=0.003). The integration of resistance training with stretching (RTS group) showed more efficacy for functional equilibrium related to the environment (BBS) than with only resistance training in older adults. However, only the gait balance (DGI) was maintained by the RTS group after detraining.O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do exercício resistido e/ ou alongamento e destreinamento no equilíbrio de idosos. Quarenta e seis idosos foram divididos em 4 grupos: Controle (C, n= 12): receberam orientações sobre prevenção de quedas. Alongamento (A, n= 12); Exercício Resistido (ER, n= 13); Exercício Resistido e Alongamento (ERA, n= 9). Foram realizados exercícios com resistência progressiva e/ou alongamento, em membros inferiores, 2x/semana, durante 12 semanas. Utilizou-se a Escala de Equilíbrio de Berg (EEB) e o Índice da Marcha Dinâmica (IMD), aplicados na 1ª, 6ª, 12ª semana e 6 semanas após o término. Utilizou-se ANOVA por medidas repetidas post hoc Fisher (p≤ 0,05), para comparação entre grupos ao longo das 4 avaliações. O ERA (12ª) aumentou a pontuação da EEB comparado ao ER (55±1 vs 53±2, p= 0,03). No IMD 12 semanas de ERA aumentaram o escore em relação ao pré treinamento (ERA) (23±2 vs 21±3; p= 0,0009). Após destreinamento o IMD do ERA foi superior, comparado ao pré treinamento (23±1 vs 21±3; p= 0,003). A associação do exercício resistido com alongamento (ERA) demonstrou ser mais eficaz para o equilíbrio funcional relacionado ao ambiente (EEB) do que exercício resistido isolado em idosos. Porém, somente o equilíbrio durante a marcha (IMD) foi mantido pelo ERA após o destreinamento

Effects of muscular endurance training on musculoskeletal disorders in teachers

AbstractIntroduction Physical exercise is indicated to reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal symptoms in teachers.Objective To evaluate the effects of muscular endurance training on muscle strength and musculoskeletal symptoms related to the lower limbs of public elementary school teachers.Materials and methods Thirty-one female teachers were divided into two groups: control (CG, n = 15) and muscular endurance training (TG, n = 16). The training consisted of two sets of 15 repetitions of exercises for quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups, twice a week, for 7 weeks, which were conducted with 50% of 10 repetition maximum(10RM) (first to fourth week) and 60% of 10 RM (fifth to seventh week). Musculoskeletal symptoms (Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire), isometric peak torque (Load cell) and muscle strength (10RM) were assessed before and after intervention. ANOVA for repeated measures and Tukey post hoc were used to analyse strength and peak torque of quadriceps and hamstrings and Chi-square goodness-of-fit test were used to analyse the frequency of occurrence of osteomuscular symptoms.Results The highest incidence of symptoms was found in the lumbar region in both groups. Training caused increased muscle strength of the quadriceps and hamstrings, but there were no significant differences in either the peak torque in the quadriceps and hamstrings or in the reduction of musculoskeletal symptoms.Conclusion The exercise program performed in this study increased the dynamic strength in the TG in relation to the CG, but did not alter the incidence of symptoms in the lumbar region and lower limbs in neither of the groups. Thus, results suggest that the duration of intervention may not have been enough to increase peak torque and decrease musculoskeletal symptoms