Static balance improvement in elderly after dorsiflexors electrostimulation training

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Biomechanics
• Neuromuscular Physiology

Background:

• Aging is associated with declines in muscle strength and postural control, increasing fall risk.
• Dorsiflexor muscle weakness is a common issue in the elderly, contributing to impaired balance.
• Electrical Stimulation (ES) is a potential therapeutic modality for muscle strengthening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of dorsiflexor ElectroStimulation (ES) training on postural control in elderly adults.
• To assess changes in postural sway, muscle activity, and joint kinematics following ES intervention.
• To determine if ES training can improve ankle dorsiflexion strength and stability.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-one elderly adults were randomized into a Training Group (TG) or Control Group (CG).
• The TG underwent 4 weeks of superimposed isometric dorsiflexion ES training.
• Postural sway, ankle muscle Electromyographic activity (EMG), and lower limb joint kinematics were measured during static balance tasks.

Main Results:

• ES training significantly decreased postural sway (P < 0.05).
• Significant increases in ankle muscles EMG activity (P < 0.001) and ankle joint stability (P < 0.05) were observed.
• Dorsiflexion moment significantly increased (P < 0.001) post-training.

Conclusions:

• Dorsiflexor ES training is effective in reducing postural sway in the elderly.
• ES intervention can enhance ankle muscle activation and joint stability, mimicking patterns seen in younger adults.
• This training method holds promise for improving balance and potentially reducing fall risk in older individuals.