Chair rising exercise is more effective than one-leg standing exercise in improving dynamic body balance: a randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Journal of musculoskeletal & neuronal interactions Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 74 - 79
• Main Authors: Yamashita, F, Iwamoto, J, Osugi, T, Yamazaki, M, Takakuwa, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece 01.06.2012
• Subjects: Accidental Falls - prevention & control; Aged; Exercise Therapy - methods; Female; Gait - physiology; Gait Disorders, Neurologic - physiopathology; Gait Disorders, Neurologic - rehabilitation; Humans; Leg - physiopathology; Male; Middle Aged; Movement - physiology; Movement Disorders - physiopathology; Movement Disorders - rehabilitation; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscle Weakness - physiopathology; Muscle Weakness - rehabilitation; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Physical Fitness - physiology; Postural Balance - physiology; Recovery of Function - physiology; Treatment Outcome; Walking - physiology
• ISSN: 1108-7161

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the effect of a one-leg standing exercise and a chair-rising exercise on body balance in patients with locomotive disorders. Thirty ambulatory patients (mean age: 66.6 years) were randomly divided into two groups (n=15 in each group): a one-leg standing exercise group and a chair-rising exercise group. All the participants performed calisthenics of the major muscles, a tandem gait exercise, and a stepping exercise. The exercises were performed 3 days per week, and the study period was 5 months. Physical function was evaluated at baseline and at one-month intervals. No significant differences in the baseline characteristics were observed between the two groups. After the 5-month exercise program, the timed up and go, one-leg standing time, and tandem gait time improved significantly in the one-leg standing exercise group, while the walking time and chair-rising time in addition to above parameters improved significantly in the chair-rising exercise group. The improvements in the walking time, chair-rising time, and tandem gait time were significantly greater in the chair-rising exercise group than in the one-leg standing exercise group. The present study showed that the chair-rising exercise was more effective than the one-leg standing exercise for improving walking velocity and dynamic body balance.