european college of sport science

14:15 - 15:15
Poster presentations
PP-HF13 Health and Fitness 13
PP-HF13 Health and Fitness 13
EVALUATION OF THE TRAINING CONCEPT ”INHARMONY” ON RISK FACTORS FOR FALLS IN ELDERLY PEOPLE. A RAN-
DOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL.
RUSTADEN, A.M., LOLAND, N.W., TORSTVEIT, M.K.
NORWEGIAN SCHOOL OF SPORTS SCIENCE
Introduction: Falls among elderly people are a serious and common problem. Several studies have shown that physical activity is one of
the most important strategies to prevent falls, but the optimal type and dosage of activity still remains unclear (Gillespie et al. 2008).
Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether the group-training concept “inHarmony” could reduce fall risk in elderly men
and women over 65 years old.
Methods: The intervention, “inHarmony” with MBT-shoes, is a group-training concept with focus on dynamic balance, stability and
strength. Sixty participants were recruited from the district Nordre Aker in Oslo, Norway, and randomized into the intervention group
(n=30) or the control group (n=30) (walking). Both groups exercised 60 minutes twice a week for 16 weeks. Thirty-four participants completed
the interventions; 20 in the intervention group and 14 in the control group. The main outcome variable was the short-form of PPA
(Physiological Profile Assessment) (Lord et al. 2003), which provides a fall risk index score. Secondary outcome variables were dynamic
balance and self-reported occurrence of falls.
Results: The intervention group and the control group experienced a 16,5 % (p=0,470) and 20,2 % (p=0,390) increased fall risk, respectively,
after the intervention period. There were no significant differences in fall risk between the two groups after the intervention period
(p=0,849). However, the control group obtained significant improvements in dynamic balance (p=0,006), while the intervention group
had a tendency to improvements (p=0,052). There were no significant differences between the groups in dynamic balance (p=0,104).
None of the groups experienced significant changes in fall occurrence, and there were no changes between the groups (p=0, 216).
Discussion: We found that “inHarmony” seem to have little influence on fall risk, dynamic balance or fall occurrence in elderly people.
However, our participants may initially have been too active for the outcome variables. We also experienced a considerable drop-out,
especially in the control group, which resulted in non-parametric analyzes. Furthermore, it would have been interesting to also include an
inactive control group. Further studies investigating different types and dosage of activity are necessary.
References
Gillespie, LD., Gillespie, WJ., Robertson, MC., Lamb, SE., Cumming, RG., Rowe, BH. (2008). Interventions for preventing falls in elderly
people (review). The Cochrane Library, Issue 1.
Lord, SR., Menz, HB., Tiedemann, A. (2003). A Physiological Profile Approach to Falls Risk
Assessment and Prevention. Physical Theraphy, 83:237-252.
MOTIVATIONS AND BARRIERS FOR PRACTICING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORT IN LESURE TIME, FOR THE POPULA-
TION OF THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF MADRID
RODRÍGUEZ-ROMO, G., GARRIDO-MUÑOZ, M., MAYORGA, J.I., LÓPEZ-DÍAZ, A.
TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MADRID (UPM)
Introduction: For the design of strategies for overcoming barriers preventing physical activity, authors have declared the need to know the
motivations for physical activity in the population (Booth et al, 1997; Sheppard et al, 2003). In the present work (Rodríguez-Romo et al,
2009) we analyze the motives and the barriers perceived by the population of the metropolitan area of Madrid for the practice of physical
activity and/or sport in their free time. Also possible relationships are studied between the said motives and barriers and some of the
sociodemographic variables that seem to have a greater incident on the physical activity practice levels and/or sport of the population of
Madrid: gender, age and social status (Rodríguez-Romo et al, 2005).
Methods: For data collection a descriptive study with cross sectional design was used, utilizing a questionnaire administered through
personal interview. The population studied consisted of residents of the metropolitan area of Madrid aged from 15 to 69 years. 625
people was selected, with a margin of error of the + 4% and a confidence interval of 95.5% for the whole population. The sampling was
multistage and an ad hoc questionnaire was used. From the data a descriptive analysis and a non-parametric Chi-Square test were
performed.
Results: Enjoyment (29.9%), maintenance of shape and condition (26.4%) and health (16.1%), were the motives for practice mentioned
most frequently, showing differences according to participants gender [X2 (8) = 19.635; p = 0.009; IC95%: 0.007-0.011] and age [X2 (32) =
55.671; p = 0.006; IC95%: 0.005-0.008]. With respect to the abandonment of the practice, the family and labour demands (24.1%) and the
lack of time (22.2%), were the most common causes. These causes were associated with age [X2 (24) = 36.955; p = 0.041; IC95%: 0.037-
0.044] and, marginally, with gender [X2 (6) = 11.753; p = 0.069; IC95%: 0.063-0.074]. Finally, the most frequent motives for never having
practiced were a lack of time (24.4%) and a lack of enjoyment (24.4%), these motives did not change with gender, age and social position.
Discussion: In our sample the practice of physical activity and sports was mainly recreational and however the maintenance and improvement
of health and the acquisition of a good physical shape and condition was also important. The motives that control the practice
of physical activity and to its abandonment are related to age and gender. On the other hand, the reasons for never having practiced are
independent of the variables analyzed.
References
Booth ML, Bauman A, Owen N, Gore CJ (1997). Prev Med, 26(1), 131-7.
Rodríguez-Romo G, Boned C, Garrido-Muñoz M (2009). Pan Am J Public Health, in press.
Rodríguez-Romo G, Mayorga JI, Merino A, Garrido M, Fernández M (2005). Hábitos deportivos de la población de la Comunidad de
Madrid. Consejería de Cultura y Deportes, Madrid.
584 14 TH
ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN COLLEGE OF SPORT SCIENCE