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STANDING STRONG: A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO IMPROVE STRENGTH AND BALANCE IN OLDER ADULTS. Rogers ME1, Page P2; 1 Department of Kinesiology and Sport Studies, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, USA, 2Benchmark Physical Therapy/The Hygenic Corporation, Baton Rouge, LA, USA. ppage@thera-band.com. PURPOSE: One-third of community-dwelling older adults and 60% of nursing home residents fall each year. Falls cause 87% of all fractures in older adults, with hip fractures being the most serious. Because approximately 95% of hip fractures result from falls, minimizing fall risk is a practical approach to reducing these injuries. The purpose of this presentation is to provide physical therapists with an evidence-based wellness exercise program to improve balance and strength in older adults.FOUNDATION: Poor balance has been associated with frequent falling and there is increasing interest exercise programs to improve balance in older adults. Balance is affected by sensory and motor systems, as well as higher-level systems, including perceptual systems that integrate sensory information. Based on the principle of exercise specificity and the multidimensional aspects of balance, the Standing Strong program was developed to target the systems involved in balance control, particularly the muscular, visual, vestibular, somatosensory, cognitive attention systems. DESCRIPTION: The Standing Strong program utilizes readily available equipment to physical therapists: elastic resistance bands, large inflated exercise balls, and progressively unstable foam pads. The bands are used to enhance strength and to incorporate dynamic movements into the training program. The balls and foam pads provide labile surfaces that challenge the neuromuscular system. Progressive increases in visual, vestibular, and cognitive challenges also challenge postural stability during the program. OBSERVATIONS: Implemented in several senior centers, this program has been shown to significantly improve strength and balance. After three months of performing these exercises three times a week, participants improve both their strength and balance by approximately 20%. While participants find the exercises challenging but enjoyable to perform, they immediately see how the exercises relate to daily activities, providing an impetus to participate. Additionally, the equipment is readily available, inexpensive, easy to store and portable, allowing older adults to continue their exercise at home. Finally, older adults can perform the exercises at a level suitable to their individual ability and progress at their own rate. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults who perform exercises with elastic bands in addition to balance-specific tasks can improve their strength and balance—two of the most important physical risk factors contributing to falls in this age group. Physical therapists can use simple equipment already available in the clinic to implement this wellness exercise program in their clinic or community. FUNDING SOURCE: The Hygenic Corporation.
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