Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of Ball Exercise on physical functions related to fall prevention among community-dwelling elderly. Nineteen healthy elderly women voluntarily participated in a Ball Exercise course that consiste of 60-min classes once a week for three months. We assessed their physical functions at baseline and then again after the Ball Exercise course. Significant improvements (p<0.05) were observed in one leg standing without vision (+7.2s), functional reach (+14.4%), trunk flexibility test (+7.1%), maximum walking speed (+17%), and the isometric muscle strength of the knee and ankle joints (+9.8-35.7%), but no changes were observed in grasping power. This study suggested that Ball Exercise might be a suitable fall prevention and health promoting exercise for elderly people. We therefore concluded that ensuring a high level of physical functions is important to prevent falls and maintain a high quality of life for elderly people.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 95-97 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine |
| Volume | 55 |
| Issue number | SUPPL. |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2006 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation