Effects of physical training on proprioception in older women.

[Q.]

Effects of physical training on proprioception in older women.
Posted on Supertraining

J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2003 Sep;3(3):223-31.

Thompson KR, Mikesky AE, Bahamonde RE, Burr DB.

Older adulthood is accompanied by declines in muscular strength,
coordination, function, and increased risk of falling. Resistance
training increases muscular strength in this population but its
effect on proprioception is unknown. To evaluate the effect of
resistance training on proprioception, community dwelling older women
completed a three-month exercise study. A resistance training (RT)
group (N=19) underwent supervised weight training three times per
week while a non-strength trained control (NSTC) group (N=19)
performed range-of-motion activities that mimicked the movements of
the RT group without the benefit of muscle loading. Subjects were
evaluated at baseline, 6, and 12 weeks for strength and
proprioception.

Muscular strength was assessed by measuring the subject's one
repetition maximum performance on four different exercises. Static
proprioception was measured by the subject's ability to reproduce a
target knee joint angle while dynamic proprioception was measured by
the subject's ability to detect passive knee motion. The RT group
made significant strength improvements compared to the NSTC group.
Proprioception significantly improved in both groups by 6 weeks. Our
findings suggest that improvements in proprioception can be obtained
via regular activity that is independent of heavy muscle loading.

[TrainingGirl]

Thanks for posting [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Q.]

The message was simple but important! We gotta just keep moving as we grow older. Use it or lose it!

[gardener]

Here's some anecdotal testimony from a 70-year-old male who started working out regularly and seriously about 6 years ago, the past 3 1/2 years with a good and very demanding trainer. My strength overall has increased enormously--for instance, from lifting 20 or 25 pounds in chest press to 110. More important are gains in the strength needed to perform ordinary daily tasks, such as, just yesterday, lifting kayaks to the station wagon's roof racks by myself. (Last summer, it took my wife's help.) Balance and proprioception may have increased slightly, but certainly not significantly.

[TrainingGirl]

I wish I could get my parents to do some kind of strength training. I always talk to them about the benefits, but they just won't budge!

[gardener]

Here's some anecdotal testimony from a 70-year-old male who started working out regularly and seriously about 6 years ago, the past 3 1/2 years with a good and very demanding trainer. My strength overall has increased enormously--for instance, from lifting 20 or 25 pounds in chest press to 110. More important are gains in the strength needed to perform ordinary daily tasks, such as, just yesterday, lifting kayaks to the station wagon's roof racks by myself. (Last summer, it took my wife's help.) Balance and proprioception may have increased slightly, but certainly not significantly.