Comparison of multisensory and strength training for postural control in the elderly

Figures & data

Figure 1 Flow of patients through the study.

Table 1 General characteristics of participants at baseline (Mean ± SD)

	GS	GM	P
N	23	23
F/M	22/1	22/1
Age (years)	70.2 ± 4.8	68.8 ± 5.9	0.47*
BMI (kg/cm^2)	28.2 ± 3.3	26.9 ± 3.5	0.30*
TUG (s)	8.8 ± 2.3	9.1 ± 1.9	0.53*
Berg	55.5 ± 1.4	55 ± 1.8	0.51**

Notes: Values are presented as mean (SD).

* Unpaired t-test;

** Mann–Whitney test.

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; F, female; M, male; TUG, Timed Up and Go test; s, seconds; Berg, Berg Balance Scale; GS, group strength; GM, group multisensory; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Displacement of center of pressure (cm²) (mean and standard deviation) within and between groups before and after interventions

	Before	After	P	P
				Group × Time
GS displacement	62.7 ± 269.8	16.6 ± 30.5	0.75*	0.28**
GM displacement	66.8 ± 273.4	11.1 ± 11.6	0.02*

Notes:

* Wilcoxon;

** Mann–Whitney.

Abbreviations: GS, group strength; GM, group multisensory.

Table 3 Peak torque (N/m) and total work (J) of isokinetic assessment of right heel and foot movements (mean and standard deviation) at 30°/s, within and between groups: strength (GS) and multisensory (GM) before and after the interventions

	GS			GM			P
	Before	After	P	Before	After	P	Group × Time
Peak torque
Plantar flexion	28.6 ± 9.0	34.3 ± 13.4	0.03	34.3 ± 13.9	42.7 ± 9.5	0.007	0.55
Dorsiflexion	12.4 ± 4.0	13.7 ± 5.7	0.32	13.6 ± 4.5	15.7 ± 3.8	0.01	0.50
Inversion	12.7 ± 5.2	14.1 ± 5.2	0.38	14.7 ± 4.6	17.6 ± 3.1	0.008	0.46
Eversion	10.2 ± 4.3	11.2 ± 4.0	0.51	11.3 ± 3.3	13.3 ± 3.3	0.007	0.61
Total work
Plantar flexion	16.5 ± 5.3	18.8 ± 7.7	0.08	20 ± 8.9	24.9 ± 7.2	0.031	0.33
Dorsiflexion	7.6 ± 2.7	8.2 ± 4.2	0.4	8.0 ± 2.9	9.7 ± 2.6	0.002	0.29
Inversion	8.4 ± 3.6	9.4 ± 3.4	0.42	10.7 ± 3.8*	11.4 ± 2.6	0.31	0.85
Eversion	8.3 ± 4.0	9.5 ± 3.5	0.39	9.3 ± 3.4	9.8 ± 2.5	0.47	0.65

Note:

* P < 0.05 comparison between GS and GM before the intervention.

Table 4 Peak torque (N/m) and total work (J) of isokinetic assessment of left heel and foot movements (mean and standard deviation) at 30°/s, within and between groups: strength (GS) and multisensory (GM) before and after the interventions

	GS			GM			P
	Before	After	P	Before	After	P	Group × Time
Peak torque
Plantar flexion	27.2 ± 8.8	34.1 ± 7.6	0.001	33.5 ± 15.5	42.0 ± 11	0.01	0.74
Dorsiflexion	12.9 ± 3.2	15.5 ± 3.8	0.001	13.7 ± 3.5	16.8 ± 3.9	0.002	0.71
Inversion	12.8 ± 4.5	14.2 ± 2.7	0.12	13.9 ± 3.5	14.8 ± 4.7	0.4	0.74
Eversion	11.2 ± 3.8	12.4 ± 3.4	0.22	13.2 ± 4.3	14.5 ± 4.7	0.28	0.98
Total work
Plantar flexion	16.4 ± 6.1	18.6 ± 5.8	0.1	19.5 ± 9.5	24.2 ± 6.9	0.04	0.39
Dorsiflexion	8.0 ± 2.4	9.1 ± 3.1	0.06	8.0 ± 2.5	10.0 ± 2.6	0.004	0.25
Inversion	9.9 ± 4.1	10.2 ± 2.7	0.69	10.7 ± 3.2	10.9 ± 3.5	0.82	0.94
Eversion	8.9 ± 3.0	9.2 ± 3.2	0.68	10.5 ± 3.5	10.6 ± 3.3	0.93	0.84