Effectiveness of Two Treatments on Posture and Balance in Elderly Women With Osteoporosis

Effectiveness of Two Treatments on Posture and Balance in Elderly Women With Osteoporosis: a Randomized Clinical Trial

The purpose of this study was compare the efficacy of two exercise programs - the first consisting of balance training and muscle strength and the second consisting of balance training and muscle stretching exercises - to improve postural control in elderly women with osteoporosis.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Osteoporosis
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Strengthening and balance exercises; Other: Stretching and balance exercises

Detailed Description

The decrease in postural control and muscle strength in lower limbs have been identified as major risk factors for falls in older people. Exercises have proven effective in decreasing risk factors in healthy elderly, but little is known about the effects of interventions with exercise in the elderly with osteoporosis.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of two exercise programs - the first consisting of balance training and muscle strength and the second consisting of balance training and muscle stretching exercises - to improve postural control in elderly women with osteoporosis.

Methods: Fifty elderly aged 65 or older, with a diagnosis of osteoporosis, were randomized into 3 groups: Strength Group (n = 17) performed balance training with muscle strengthening; Stretching Group (n = 17) performed balance training with stretching; and Control Group (n =16) did not do activity. The groups trained for 8 weeks, with sessions of about 60 minutes, twice a week. Postural control was evaluated by Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction for Balance (CTSIBm) and Limits of Stability test (LOS) in Balance Master force plate, the functional balance by Berg Balance Scale (BBS), muscle strength by dynamometry, the shortening of the hamstrings by goniometry and posture by PAS/SAPO (Postural Assessment Software).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 50
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • São Paulo, Brazil
    • University of Sao Paulo General Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 65 years to 80 years (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• women from 65 to 80 yrs of age
• diagnosis of osteoporosis classified according to the criteria of the World Health Organization, with bone mineral densitometry reduced by at least 2.5 SD when compared with young adults (region of lumbar spine)

Exclusion Criteria:

• severe visual deficiency
• physically incapable of participating in the tests
• neurological disorders, amputations, or prostheses
• individuals with regular physical activity (twice or more per week) or who had recently participated in exercise programs for muscular strength or balance

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control Group
Experimental: Strengthening Group; Performed balance training with lower limbs muscle strengthening.	Other: Strengthening and balance exercises; The group trained for 8 weeks, with sessions of about 60 minutes, twice a week.; Other Names: Force Platform; Balance Master
Experimental: Stretching Group; Performed balance training with stretching	Other: Stretching and balance exercises; The group trained for 8 weeks, with sessions of about 60 minutes, twice a week.; Other Names: Force Platform; Balance Master

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Postural Control	Postural control was evaluated by Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction for Balance (CTSIBm) and Limits of Stability test (LOS) in Balance Master force plate	eight weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Postural alignment	Postual alignment (thoracic kyphosis and forward head) measured by PAS/SAPO (Postural Assessment Software)	eight weeks
Lower limb muscle strength	The muscle strength in knee extension and knee flexion was evaluated by dynamometry.	eight weeks
Shortening of the hamstrings	The shortening of the hamstrings was evaluated by goniometry.	eight weeks
Berg Balance Scale		Eight weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Sao Paulo General Hospital
• Collaborators: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Thomaz N Burke, MSc, University of Sao Paulo

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Link to my thesis in portuguese

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2007
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2009
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 27, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 27, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): September 28, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): October 6, 2010
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 5, 2010
• Last Verified: March 1, 2008

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: muscle strength; elderly; posture; postural balance; muscle stretching exercises; musculoskeletal equilibrium
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Metabolic Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Bone Diseases; Bone Diseases, Metabolic; Osteoporosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: 787/06