| Keywords |
Elderly women ; Power training ; Functional fitness ; Falling |
| Abstract |
It is unclear whether strength training or power training is the more effective intervention strategy at improving muscle strength, power and functional ability for prevention of falling in older adults. The purpose of this study was to compare traditional strength training with high-speed power training on low extremity muscle strength, power and functional fitness in elderly women. Twenty-four elderly women(74.2±4.3 yr) completed the training program for 12 weeks. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups: strength training group(STG, n=8), power training group(PTG, n=8), control(CG, n=8). Training groups trained 3 days per week, elastic band(10 exercises, 2-3 sets per exercise) protocol for 12 weeks. For PTG, the concentric phase of the exercise was completed “as fast as possible”, whereas for STG the concentric phase was 2 second. Both PTG and STG paused briefly at the midpoint of the movement and completed the eccentric phase of the movement in 2 second. STG and PTG showed significant improvement in chair sit and reach, one-leg standing, sit and stand and berg-balance scale compared with the CG. There are no significant differences between training groups. Maximal strength generally increased in STG and PTG compared with CG. Power were significantly increased in PTG compared with STG and CG. For prevention of falling in old adults, we suggest that power training is effective intervention for improvement of low-extremity power as well as strength and functional fitness. |