Effects of a dynamic balance training protocol on the podalic support in older women.

Background and aims: The foot provides the only direct contact with the supporting surface and therefore plays an important role in all postural tasks. Changes to the musculoskeletal and neurological characteristics of the foot associated with advancing age can alter plantar loading patterns and postural balance. Several studies have reported that exercise training improves postural performances in elderly individuals. The aim of our study was to investigate the effectiveness of a dynamic balance training protocol performed for 5 weeks on support surface area, percentage distribution of load in both feet and body balance performance in healthy elderly women. Methods: Ten subjects (68.67+/-5.50 years old; 28.17+/-3.35 BMI) were evaluated by a monopodalic performance test and baropodometric analyses before and after the training period. Results: We found a significant improvement in balance unipedal performance times on left and right foot by 20.18% and 26.23% respectively (P<0.05). The support surface area of the right foot significantly increased in response to training protocol and, in particular, both in the forefoot and rearfoot region (P<0.05). Moreover, before the training period load distribution on the left foot was greater than the right one; while an equal load redistribution was present on both feet in response to exercise (P>0.05). Conclusions: The increased support surface area and equal redistribution of body weight on both feet obtained in response to our training protocol might be postural adaptations sufficient for improving static balance in elderly women.