fitness

"Stabometric-postural and motor" analysis of a group of elderly people who practice Sweet Gymnastics

By Dr. Matteo Giardini

Title:

"Stabometric-postural and motor" analysis of a group of elderly practitioners of Sweet Gymnastics, part of the Municipal Program "Health Program", at the Municipal Gymnasium of the "Raggio di Sole" School in the Mandriola locality at the Municipality of Albignasego (Padua).

Author:

Prof. Matteo Giardini, teacher of physical activity education at the ENAIP High School of Padua and technician of the "HumanLab" Biomechanics Laboratory at the "Villa Ferri - Health and Movement Center" Clinic

Background:

Physical activity has shown, with innumerable scientific researches, its significance (longitudinal ACSM study) regarding the positive effects related to the increase of motor skills (strength; Fiatarone-Singh, 2002), speed, balance, weight loss (reduction of weight) and also to the maintenance / improvement of the flexibility of the musculoskeletal system.

Other studies (Gulati et al., Circulation; Myers et al., NEJM) show that physical exercise is a "natural drug" not only for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, etc.), but also of the musculoskeletal system (Sarcopenia; Jones & Rose, 2005) and dysmorphism / paramorphism of the spine. Another aspect is related to huge social costs, such as falls in the elderly, which in most cases (51%) cause permanent disability; also in this area the motor activity shows its positive effects, preventing hypokinesis (NF Toraman, Br J Sports Med 2005).

It was therefore decided to monitor a course of Sweet Gymnastics, for a period of 90 days, maintaining the same environmental conditions, logistics and in the timing of the analyzes to be performed.

The objectives are linked to the finding of improvements in motor skills and static and dynamic balance. As for the component related to weight loss, no significant results are expected, as there is no specific aerobic training program.

Methods:

A group of (n = 10) seniors chosen consecutively was studied (average age = 65 years; SD = 8.5), participating in the course of Sweet Gymnastics (Tuesday and Friday) at the school gym "Raggio di Sole" in the locality of Mandriola, of the Municipality of Albignasego for two total hours a week.

As a methodology of work, the anthropomorphic data (at the beginning and end of the course) of the participants were taken into account: age, weight, height, and body composition "Body mass index" [BMI], waist circumference and hip ratio, the motor skills (strength, resistant strength, rapidity, balance and flexibility) and the postural control component for the maintenance of the standing station, through the use of the "Stabilometria" analysis tool with closed and open eyes, in bipodalic support on rigid and unstable plane with "propioceptive mat", in order to analyze the activation component: 1 = neurological, 2 = propioceptive, 3 = muscular, for a duration of 25 seconds, according to the protocol of the French School of Clinical Posturology (Gagey, Weber, Bonier, et al).

The statistical processing of the data to calculate the significance involved the "t test with paired data" (with significance value for p <0.05).

Physical analysis test:

  1. with statimeter height measurement in centimeters
  2. with balance weight analysis in kg
  3. with meter, analysis of the circumference in cm of life and side

With regard to motor tests, the Senior Fitness Test (Rikli and Jones, 1999) was used, with the exception of the aerobic resistance test, due to logistical problems.

  1. flexibility: from the sitting position to touch the tip of the foot with the fingers of the hand
  2. resistant force: perform the maximum number of bends on the legs, starting from a sitting position
  3. resistant force: carry out the maximum number of flexions and extensions of the forearm on the arm with a weight (handlebar) of 2 Kg in a time of 30 Seconds
  4. dynamic balance: from a sitting position on a chair, getting up in an upright position and traveling for three meters, turning around and returning to a seated position in the chair as quickly as possible
  5. flexibility: touching the fingers of the hands in an anatomical position above the scapular (measuring the distance between the right middle finger to the left)

Balance test:

  1. Romberg Tets tandem with open and closed eyes
  2. instrumental analysis with stabilometry in static orthostatism:

- eyes open on a stable two-foot support for 25 seconds

- eyes closed on a stable two-foot support for 25 seconds

- eyes open on an unstable two-legged support, on a propioceptive pad for 25 seconds

- eyes closed on unstable podalic support, on a propioceptive mat for 25 seconds

Results:

After the three months of training the course participants highlighted a significant change regarding some motor tests:

1) the backstrech dx vs sx test had a decrease in the distance between the fingers, from 13.65 Cm to 3.9 Cm (p <0.024), while the backstrech sx vs dx test showed a change from 18.8 Cm to 4.15 Cm ( p <0.001).

2) Postural stabilometric tests:

bipodalic support on propioceptive mat, open eyes and posterior anterior pendulation, significant reduction of the energy used to maintain the posture from to (P <0.05)

bipodalic support on a propioceptive mat, open eyes and lateral mean pendulation, reduction approaching significance with a reduction in neurological activation from a (P <0.06) and reduction of the propioceptive component from to (P <0.06)

bipodalic support on a propioceptive mat, open eyes and lateral mean pendulum, with reduction, approaching significance, of neurological activation from a (P <0.06) and reduction of the propioceptive component from to (P <0.06)

bipodalic support on stable plane, with open eyes, in posterior anterior pendulation, there is a greater recruitment of the propioceptive component, with values ​​approaching significance (P <0.07), also the neurological component sees a reduction of its activation (P < 0:07)

The complete data of all tests are shown in "Table 1" below.

Body Composition Test Results:

YEARSHEIGHTWEIGHTSIDELIFELIFE / SIDE REPORTBMI
FIRST MEDIA TEST

65, 00

160 Cm

69, 73Kg

106, 65Cm

88, 30Cm

0.82

27, 45

STANDARD DEVIATION

8.51

0, 06Cm

11, 43Kg

12, 61Cm

14, 99Cm

0.05

5.50

SECOND MEDIA TEST

65, 00

160 Cm

68, 73Kg

104, 55Cm

88, 64Cm

0.85

27, 17

STANDARD DEVIATION

8.51

0, 06Cm

11, 43Kg

13, 66Cm

13, 42Cm

0.08

5.39

P = NS

P = NS

P = 0.32

P = 0.42

Engine Test:

RAISE YOURSELF, TRAVEL THREE METERS AND RETURN TO A SEATED POSITIONFLEXIBILITY BUSTBENDS ON THE LOWER LIMBS FOR 30 SECONDSFLEXIBLE FOREQUARTERS ON THE RIGHT ARM HANDLE BAR = 2KGFLEXIBLE DOUBLE HANDLE ON ARM LEFT HANDLEBAR = 2KGBACK STRETCH HAND LEFT VS DXBACK STRETCH HAND DX VS SX
FIRST MEDIA TEST

6.70 Seconds

7cm

12.7

18.9

20.2

13.65 Cm

18.8 cm

STANDARD DEVIATION

2, 252 Seconds

10.93 Cm

1.41

2.37

3.25

8.00 Cm

8.41 Cm

SECOND MEDIA TEST

6.21 Seconds

-0.2 Cm

14, 55

20, 88

22, 11

3.9 Cm

4.15 Cm

STANDARD DEVIATION

1.3 Seconds

3.00 Cm

3.00

2.42

1.83

9.66 Cm

8.95 Cm

meaningfulness

0.48

0.123

0, 095

0, 085

0.123

0, 024

0.001

Balance Test:

ROMBERG TANDEM TEST OPEN EYESROMBERG TANDEM TEST OPEN EYESROMBERG TANDEM TEST CLOSED EYESROMBERG TANDEM TEST CLOSED EYES
FIRST MEDIA TEST

0

0

0.4

0.5

STANDARD DEVIATION

0

0

0.51

0.52

SECOND MEDIA TEST

0

0

0.3

0.2

STANDARD DEVIATION

0

0

3

2

Key: 0 = negative testP = <0.85P = <0.091

Stability tests:

Stable floor with open eyesSURFACE (mm)0.5HzO, 5 A 2 HzGREATER 2HzENERGY (Joules)SURFACE (mm)0.5Hz O, 5 A 2 HzGREATER 2HzENERGY (Joules)
Primo TEST MEDIA147, 7085, 0713, 950.5563, 0289.869.54 0.68118.14147, 70
STANDARD DEVIATION60, 1012, 3411.570.7919, 798.728.36 0.5751, 3260, 10
Second TEST MEDIA113.4085, 6813.670.8447, 3183, 8215, 32 0.9882, 08113.40
STANDARD DEVIATION81, 7110, 3510, 230.2430, 094.884.50 0.5890, 7481, 71
meaningfulness0.300.960.640.280.19 0.07 0070 0.260.290.30
Stable floor with closed eyesSURFACE (mm)0.5HzO, 5 A 2 HzGREATER 2HzENERGY (Joules)SURFACE (mm)0.5Hz O, 5 A 2 HzGREATER 2HzENERGY (Joules)
FIRST MEDIA TEST160.4084.3814, 860.8269, 3783.0923, 31 2.34160.02160.40
STANDARD DEVIATION89.2612.6611, 950.8138, 1811, 3224, 82 3.56122.8889.26
SECOND MEDIA TEST157.4477, 3919, 761.0579, 3785, 2414, 21 0.79175.56157.44
STANDARD DEVIATION112.309.739.970.6644.9315.2414.95 0.56115.06112.30
meaningfulness0.940.180.330.400.600.800.33 0.190.770.94
Unstable floor with open eyesSURFACE (mm)0.5HzO, 5 A 2 HzGREATER 2HzENERGY (Juole)SURFACE (mm)0.5Hz O, 5 A 2 HzGREATER 2HzENERGY (Joules)
FIRST MEDIA TEST533, 5085, 6513, 930.56355.4369, 1529.56 1.44295.74533, 50
STANDARD DEVIATION283.399.529.270.35170.3614, 1413, 72 0.80104, 75283.39
SECOND MEDIA TEST591.4376.3622, 910.73250.5576.2122, 66 1.46486.11591.43
STANDARD DEVIATION359.0411, 1510, 990.27152.2713, 0112, 90 1.30259.29359.04
meaningfulness0.48 0.06 0.060.200.110.260.23 0.27 0.050.48
Unstable floor with closed eyesSURFACE (mm)0.5HzO, 5 A 2 HzGREATER 2HzENERGY (Juole)SURFACE (mm)0.5Hz O, 5 A 2 HzGREATER 2HzENERGY (Joules)
FIRST MEDIA TEST2156.6078.2121, 181.06925.5471.6726.67 1.981479.852156.60
STANDARD DEVIATION1104.4616, 4016, 090.78576.5914, 9314, 18 1.43766.361104.46
SECOND MEDIA TEST2679.7069.5629, 811.131593.2671, 3226, 42 1.991723.282679.70
STANDARD DEVIATION1284.3321, 2020, 900.72660.4120, 18 19, 091.50897.871284.33
meaningfulness0, 3410.830.390.830.320.95 0.970.980.530, 341

SECOND AND FIRST TEST TEST (STABLE WITH OPEN EYES)

SECOND TEST AND FIRST TEST (STABLE WITH CLOSED EYES)

SECOND TEST AND FIRST TEST (UNSTABLE PLAN WITH OPEN EYES)

SECOND TEST AND FIRST TEST (UNSTABLE PLAN WITH CLOSED EYES)

Discussion:

Recent studies have shown that motor activity can be used as an effective means of prevention for pathologies of the most varied medical specialties (cardiology, orthopedics, physiatrics, pneumology and posturology). Our study foresees a direction of recovery of the propioceptive and postural tonic abilities, such as to prevent the risk of falls in the elderly. In fact a deterioration of the balance control system (propioceptive and neurological), involves instability of locomotion and in the movements of daily life. Another important feature concerns the improvement of the values ​​of resistant force, necessary for the conduct of daily life operations, but also of the flexibility to the muscle tendon system for the prevention of degenerative and traumatic pathologies to the ligamentous apparatus.

In our study two subjects were observed with abnormal response to Stabilometric and Motor tests, which influenced the statistical processing, lowering the significance index.

We believe that these anomalous behaviors are to be evaluated in future studies, in order to observe two subgroups with different motor and equilibrium characteristics.

Conclusions:

It was observed that a short training period (90 days, 20 motor activity sessions) can lead to significant improvements in my tendon flexibility (Backstrech test left hand distance vs right = from 18.8 Cm to 4.15 Cm with p <0.001; Backstrech test right hand distance vs left = from 13.65 Cm to 3.9 Cm with p <0.024) and in maintaining the equilibrium, with observation of the antero-posterior pendulation with open eyes and stable bi-podal support are observed values ​​close to significance (p <0.07), with an increase in the neurological activation component (76.21% at 83.82) and the propioceptive component (p <0.07) which is reduced (from 22.66% to 15.329%). On an unstable plane with a "propioceptive mat", there is a significant reduction (p <0.05) of the energy used to maintain the equilibrium from (486Joule to 295Joule) and values ​​close to the significance (p <0.06) of the neurological activation passing from (76.36% to 85.65%) and the propioceptive component (p <0.06) passing from (22.91% to 13.93%).

Limitations:

The main limits observed by the study are the low number of subjects observed and the limited number of sessions envisaged by the "Health Program" project.

Acknowledgments: