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EFFECTS OF BALLATES, STEP AEROBICS, AND WALKING ON BALANCE
IN WOMEN AGED 50-75 YEARS
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Sarah
Clary1, Cathleen Barnes1, Debra Bemben1, Allen Knehans2 and Michael
Bemben1 |
1University of Oklahoma, Department of Health and Exercise Science,
Norman, USA
2University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Department of Nutritional
Science, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| Received |
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10 March 2006 |
| Accepted |
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06
July 2006 |
| Published |
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01
September 2006 |
©
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2006) 5, 390 - 399
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| ABSTRACT |
| This study examined the effectiveness of Ballates training (strengthening
of the central core musculature by the inception of balance techniques)
compared to more traditional exercise programs, such as step aerobics
and walking, on balance in women aged 50- 75 years. Participants were
randomly assigned to one of three supervised training groups (1 hour/day,
3 days/week, 13 weeks), Ballates (n = 12), step aerobics (n = 17),
or walking (n =15). Balance was measured by four different methods
(modified Clinical Test for the Sensory Interaction on Balance - mCTSIB;
Unilateral Stance with Eyes Open - US-EO or Eyes Closed - US-EC; Tandem
Walk - TW; Step Quick Turn - SQT) using the NeuroCom Balance Master.
A 2-way (Group and Trial) repeated measures ANOVA and post-hoc Bonferroni
Pair-wise Comparisons were used to evaluate changes in the dependent
variables used to describe stability and balance (sway velocity, turn
sway, speed, and turn time). Measures of static postural stability
and dynamic balance were similar for the three groups prior to training.
Following the different exercise interventions, sway velocity on firm
and foam surfaces (mCTSIB) with eyes closed (p < 0.05) increased
for the Ballates group while the other two exercise groups either
maintained or decreased their sway velocity following the training,
therefore suggesting that these two groups either maintained or improved
their balance. There were significant improvements in speed during
the TW test (p < 0.01), and turn time (p < 0.01) and sway (p
< 0.05) during the SQT test for each of the three groups. In general,
all three training programs improved dynamic balance, however, step
aerobics and walking programs resulted in be better improvements in
postural stability or static balance when compared to the Ballates
program.
KEY
WORDS: Exercise intervention, static balance, dynamic balance,
aging.
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