Functional vs Traditional Training in Older Women's Health

Functional vs Traditional Group-Based Training in Community-Dwelling Older Women: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

This study investigates how balance, mobility, strength, gait speed, and health-related quality of life in older adults (65+) are affected after an 8-week training period using the Norwegian national concept for older adults, Strong and Steady, compared to a modified version that incorporates functional training variables.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Performance Enhancement
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Experimental, comparator and control

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 48
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Norway
  • Steinkjer, Norway, 7714
    • SSA Steinkjer

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 61 years to 71 years (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Elderlies aged 65 to 75 years old.
• Have been participating and physical training for at least six months before the start of the intervention.
• The participants must be highly motivated for the project, which will be measured using the likard scale.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Illness or injury within the last three months.
• Do not have the ability to complete the test battery concerning set minimum criteria

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention; This group will use a functional training system developed specifically for elderlies to improve everyday movements, physical strength and balance.	Other: Experimental, comparator and control; To quantify the effect of a training intervention for elderlies on improved range of motion, dynamic balance, gait speed, gait coordination, everyday movements and strength compared to a training group from the Norwegian elderly concept "Stærk og Stødig" and a control group.
Active Comparator: Positive control; This group will use a general training system developed for elderlies to improve everyday movements, physical strength and balance.	Other: Experimental, comparator and control; To quantify the effect of a training intervention for elderlies on improved range of motion, dynamic balance, gait speed, gait coordination, everyday movements and strength compared to a training group from the Norwegian elderly concept "Stærk og Stødig" and a control group.
No Intervention: Negative control; Control group: A group that is not treated.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Y-Balance Test	Measure balance performance (Cm)	Day 1
Y-Balance Test	Measure balance performance (Cm)	2 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mobility test	Chair-sit-and-reach and back scratch test (Cm)	Day 1
Mobility test	Chair-sit-and-reach and back scratch test (Cm)	2 months
Strength Test	Chair stand and Arm curl test (Repetitions)	Day 1
Functional Strength Test	Chair stand and Arm curl test (Repetitions)	2 months
Time up-and-go test	Measure agility (Secounds)	Day 1
Time up-and-go test	Measure agility (Secounds)	2 months
6-minute walking test	Measure walking distance (Meters)	Day 1
6-minute walking test	Measure walking distance (Meters)	2 months
SF-36 questionnaire	Measure the participant's Health-related quality of life	2 months
SF-36 questionnaire	Measure the participant's Health-related quality of life	1 day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Aalborg University
• Collaborators: The Research Council of Norway

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 22, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): December 22, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 20, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 20, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): September 22, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 4, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 2, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Back Pain; Low Back Pain
• Other Study ID Numbers: 438956

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No