Benefits of Two 24-Week Interactive Cognitive-Motor Programs on Body Composition, Lower-Body Strength, and Processing Speed in Community Dwellings at Risk of Falling: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Hugo Rosado; Catarina Pereira; Jorge Bravo; Joana Carvalho; Armando Raimundo

doi:10.3390/ijerph19127117

Benefits of Two 24-Week Interactive Cognitive-Motor Programs on Body Composition, Lower-Body Strength, and Processing Speed in Community Dwellings at Risk of Falling: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jun 10;19(12):7117. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19127117.

Authors

Hugo Rosado^{1

2}, Catarina Pereira^{1

2}, Jorge Bravo^{1

2}, Joana Carvalho^{3

4}, Armando Raimundo^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Departamento de Desporto e Saúde, Escola de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade de Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal.
² Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Universidade de Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal.
³ Faculdade de Desporto, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal.
⁴ CIAFEL-Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Universidade do Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal.

Abstract

This 24-week randomized controlled trial study evaluated the effects of two interactive cognitive−motor programs on body composition, lower-body strength, and processing speed in community dwellings at risk of falling. Forty-eight participants (75.0 ± 5.4 years) were allocated into EG1 (psychomotor intervention program), EG2 (combined program (psychomotor intervention + whole-body vibration)), and a control group. EG programs induced significant improvements in bone mass, lower-body strength, and processing speed (p < 0.05), with similar treatment effects on lower-body strength and processing speed and higher bone mineral content and density within EG2. The fall rate decreased in EG1 (44.2%) and EG2 (63%) (p < 0.05). After the 12-week no-intervention follow-up, improvements in lower-body strength were reversed in both EGs, but those in processing speed were maintained, mainly in EG2 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, both programs were accepted and well tolerated. The combined program led to additional benefits in bone mass. Both programs positively impacted physical and cognitive risk factors for falls and injuries. They induced similar improvements in lower-body strength and processing speed, decreasing the fall rate. These findings suggest that both programs are successful for fall and injury prevention in the studied population.

Keywords: aging; bone mineral density; cognitive function; falls; muscle strength; psychomotor intervention.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Body Composition
Cognition
Exercise Therapy
Humans
Independent Living*
Postural Balance*

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the European Fund for regional development through Horizon 2020-Portugal 2020, with respect to the “ESACA–Ageing Safety in Alentejo. Understanding for action–Project” (Grant ALT20-03-0145-FEDER-000007), and by the doctoral fellowship (SFRH/BD/147398/2019) provided by the “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia”. The funding source had no involvement in the conceptualization, analysis, or preparation of this manuscript.