Marla Benedek, Tiancheng Wang, Christine Muscolo, Adina Schwartz,

Kobena Waters, Emily Green, Yu Lun, Mengge Shan, and Jared Lindenberg

Team BALANCEBettering Aged Living through Alternative Neural Corrective

Exercises

General OverviewComparison of two types of resistance training to determine the more effective method for improving balance, especially in senior citizens.

Relevance and Justification35-40% of

community dwelling elderly adults aged 60+ fall (American Geriatric Society, et. al., 2001)

It is a national agenda to reduce the rate of emergency department visits due to elderly falls (Healthy People 2020, 2009)

http://blogs.abcnews.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/11/04/elderly_fall2_081103_mn.jpg

Relevance and JustificationNumerous benefits of preventing falls

Improved quality of life, especially for senior citizens

Increased degree of personal freedomReduced exposure to risk of serious,

lasting injuryReduced hospitalization and

rehabilitation expensesYoung adults are generally used as

reference subjects in aging studies (Liu & Lockhart, 2009)

Literature Review SummaryKey terms

Muscular Interdependency: the tendency of muscle groups in the same appendage to fire in the same direction

Muscular Independence: the ability of muscle groups in the same appendage to fire in the opposite direction

Motor Synergy: the degree to which muscular independence is exhibited against muscular interdependency to achieve the intended movement

Center of Balance:………..

Resistance training has been shown to reduce falls through muscle strengthening and balance improvement (Costello and Edelstein, 2008)

Individual finger training reduced finger interdependency most out of three training protocols (Shim, et. al.2008): Simultaneous finger training Individual finger trainingIndividual finger training with other fingers

restrained Found that individual finger training

increased ability to move one finger while minimizing other finger movement

Literature Review Summary

Research Questions

How do individual-joint and whole-leg training improve balance maintenance and recovery by increasing motor synergy and muscular strength?Which training method best improves balance maintenance and recovery for senior citizens?

How effective is this training method with college-age students as compared to senior citizens?

HypothesesResistance training will

cause a greater increase in balance in the elderly than in the young

Both individual-joint training and whole-leg training will increase balance through increased muscular strength

Individual-joint training will increase balance more than whole-leg training through increased motor synergy

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SubjectsQualifications

Sample size ≥ 16 young (18-24), 16 elderly (65+)

Presence of a sedentary lifestyleAbsence of neurological disorders and

medicationsRecruitment

Matched pairing for height, weight, and sexYoung subjects from University of Maryland,

College ParkElderly subjects from the Greater College

Park communityCompensation

$120 for 12 hours of involvement, paid in a tiered progression

Training

• 6 Weeks• 3 Sessions per Week• Resistance = 75% RM• 3 Sets of 10• 2 Min. Between Sets

StrengthDynamometer

StabilometryForce Plate

PerturbationLEPDForce PlateSEMGMotion Analysis

System http://www.vicon.com/products/motus_demo.html

Testing

Methodology Flowchart

Recruitment

Individual Joint

Exercises

Whole Leg Exercises

6-Week Training

• Ankle Plantarflexion

• Knee Extension• Hip Extension

Testing-Pretest and every

two weeks• Strength

• Stabilometry• Perturbation

6-Week Training

• Leg Press

Matched Data Analysis

Current ProgressArranged Laboratory and EquipmentIdentified Subject PoolsApplied for HHMI GrantContacted Multiple Supportive ExpertsTrained in the use of the Motion Analysis

SystemTeam Completion of IRB Training

Future Plans and Timeline

AcknowledgementsDr. Jae Kun ShimDr. Rebecca ThomasCourtenay BarrettDr. Alison LinbergDr. Svetla BaykouchevaThomas HarrodKatie JohnsonDr. James Wallace and the Gemstone

Program Staff

Questions?