Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Postural Balance and Physical Performance in Older Women: Randomized Controlled Trial

<b>Background:</b> Aging causes morphological and physiological changes, especially in the musculoskeletal and somatosensory systems, leading to sarcopenia and reduced postural balance, increasing the risk of falls and loss of independence. This study aimed to analyze the effects of a ne...

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Main Authors: Yeny Concha-Cisternas, José Castro-Piñero, Manuel Vásquez-Muñoz, Iván Molina-Márquez, Jaime Vásquez-Gómez, Eduardo Guzmán-Muñoz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/9/4/195
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author Yeny Concha-Cisternas
José Castro-Piñero
Manuel Vásquez-Muñoz
Iván Molina-Márquez
Jaime Vásquez-Gómez
Eduardo Guzmán-Muñoz
author_facet Yeny Concha-Cisternas
José Castro-Piñero
Manuel Vásquez-Muñoz
Iván Molina-Márquez
Jaime Vásquez-Gómez
Eduardo Guzmán-Muñoz
author_sort Yeny Concha-Cisternas
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Aging causes morphological and physiological changes, especially in the musculoskeletal and somatosensory systems, leading to sarcopenia and reduced postural balance, increasing the risk of falls and loss of independence. This study aimed to analyze the effects of a neuromuscular training program on postural balance, physical performance, and muscle strength in older Chilean women. <b>Methods:</b> The double-blind randomized controlled trial included 48 participants aged 65–80 who were divided into three groups: a control group (CG), a multicomponent training group (MCG), and a neuromuscular training group (NMG). Postural balance was assessed using a force platform with open eyes (OE) and closed eyes (CE) conditions, measuring ML velocity, AP velocity, mean radius, and area. Physical performance was evaluated with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), including static balance, 4-m walking speed, and 5× sit-to-stand chair test. Muscle strength was measured using a hydraulic hand dynamometer to record maximum grip force. <b>Results:</b> Significant time × group interactions in the CE condition were found for mean radius (F = 0.984; <i>p</i> = 0.017; ηp<sup>2</sup> = 0.184), AP velocity (F = 10.01; <i>p</i> = 0.001; ηp<sup>2</sup> = 0.312), and ML velocity (F = 4.30; <i>p</i> = 0.027; ηp<sup>2</sup> = 0.163). Significant pre–post differences in the NMG for mean radius (<i>p</i> < 0.001), AP velocity (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and ML velocity (<i>p</i> = 0.029) were observed, with no significant changes in CG. Significant time × group interactions were also found in the SPPB test score (F = 11.49; <i>p</i> < 0.001; ηp<sup>2</sup> = 0.343), gait speed (F = 5.513; <i>p</i> = 0.012; ηp<sup>2</sup> = 0.198), and sit-to-stand test (F = 5.731; <i>p</i> = 0.010; ηp<sup>2</sup> = 0.206), but not in the balance score (F = 2.099; <i>p</i> = 0.148). Handgrip strength showed no significant interactions (F = 3.216; <i>p</i> = 0.061; ηp<sup>2</sup> = 0.127). <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings suggest that neuromuscular training is a promising intervention to mitigate the decline in balance and physical function associated with aging, offering a targeted approach to improve the quality of life in the elderly.
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spelling doaj-art-8bb45fea8ff540eb9d4c8d5f8eebf2702024-12-27T14:32:13ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422024-10-019419510.3390/jfmk9040195Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Postural Balance and Physical Performance in Older Women: Randomized Controlled TrialYeny Concha-Cisternas0José Castro-Piñero1Manuel Vásquez-Muñoz2Iván Molina-Márquez3Jaime Vásquez-Gómez4Eduardo Guzmán-Muñoz5Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Talca 3460000, ChileGALENO Research Group, Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11519 Puerto Real, SpainCentro de Observación y Análisis de Datos en Salud, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 8580745, ChileEscuela de Educación Física, Facultad de Educación, Universidad Adventista de Chile, Chillán 3780000, ChileCentro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del Maule (CIEAM), Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca 3460000, ChileEscuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Salud, Universidad Santo Tomás, Talca 3460000, Chile<b>Background:</b> Aging causes morphological and physiological changes, especially in the musculoskeletal and somatosensory systems, leading to sarcopenia and reduced postural balance, increasing the risk of falls and loss of independence. This study aimed to analyze the effects of a neuromuscular training program on postural balance, physical performance, and muscle strength in older Chilean women. <b>Methods:</b> The double-blind randomized controlled trial included 48 participants aged 65–80 who were divided into three groups: a control group (CG), a multicomponent training group (MCG), and a neuromuscular training group (NMG). Postural balance was assessed using a force platform with open eyes (OE) and closed eyes (CE) conditions, measuring ML velocity, AP velocity, mean radius, and area. Physical performance was evaluated with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), including static balance, 4-m walking speed, and 5× sit-to-stand chair test. Muscle strength was measured using a hydraulic hand dynamometer to record maximum grip force. <b>Results:</b> Significant time × group interactions in the CE condition were found for mean radius (F = 0.984; <i>p</i> = 0.017; ηp<sup>2</sup> = 0.184), AP velocity (F = 10.01; <i>p</i> = 0.001; ηp<sup>2</sup> = 0.312), and ML velocity (F = 4.30; <i>p</i> = 0.027; ηp<sup>2</sup> = 0.163). Significant pre–post differences in the NMG for mean radius (<i>p</i> < 0.001), AP velocity (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and ML velocity (<i>p</i> = 0.029) were observed, with no significant changes in CG. Significant time × group interactions were also found in the SPPB test score (F = 11.49; <i>p</i> < 0.001; ηp<sup>2</sup> = 0.343), gait speed (F = 5.513; <i>p</i> = 0.012; ηp<sup>2</sup> = 0.198), and sit-to-stand test (F = 5.731; <i>p</i> = 0.010; ηp<sup>2</sup> = 0.206), but not in the balance score (F = 2.099; <i>p</i> = 0.148). Handgrip strength showed no significant interactions (F = 3.216; <i>p</i> = 0.061; ηp<sup>2</sup> = 0.127). <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings suggest that neuromuscular training is a promising intervention to mitigate the decline in balance and physical function associated with aging, offering a targeted approach to improve the quality of life in the elderly.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/9/4/195agingneuromuscular trainingpostural balancephysical performancemuscle strength
spellingShingle Yeny Concha-Cisternas
José Castro-Piñero
Manuel Vásquez-Muñoz
Iván Molina-Márquez
Jaime Vásquez-Gómez
Eduardo Guzmán-Muñoz
Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Postural Balance and Physical Performance in Older Women: Randomized Controlled Trial
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
aging
neuromuscular training
postural balance
physical performance
muscle strength
title Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Postural Balance and Physical Performance in Older Women: Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Postural Balance and Physical Performance in Older Women: Randomized Controlled Trial
title_fullStr Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Postural Balance and Physical Performance in Older Women: Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Postural Balance and Physical Performance in Older Women: Randomized Controlled Trial
title_short Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Postural Balance and Physical Performance in Older Women: Randomized Controlled Trial
title_sort effects of neuromuscular training on postural balance and physical performance in older women randomized controlled trial
topic aging
neuromuscular training
postural balance
physical performance
muscle strength
url https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/9/4/195
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