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Abstract

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(3): 468-478, 2018. The purpose of the current study was to determine changes in balance and strength following an eccentric resistance training program in community-dwelling older adults who reported no history of falling. Participants (N = 14, 8 female, 6 male; age = 63.5 ± 2.0 years) completed an 8-week eccentric exercise training intervention on a commercially available eccentric step machine. Training included 2 training sessions per week, with a duration of 5 to 10 minutes and an intensity of 30 to 50% maximal eccentric strength. Single leg stance, 30-second repeated chair stand, timed up-and-go, and maximal eccentric strength were assessed at baseline, mid-point, and within one week of the final training session. In addition, total negative work and rating of perceived exertion were recorded for each exercise session. Negative work completed in training increased approximately three times, while rating of perceived exertion plateaued at the mid-point of training. The results indicated that significant improvements were observed in the 30-second repeated chair stand (p< .001), the timed up-and-go (p < .001), and maximal eccentric strength (p < .001), while there was no significant change in single leg stance time based on post-hoc analyses. The eccentric training was sufficient to yield improved performance on balance and strength tasks. These improvements, in community-dwelling individuals reporting no previous falls, indicate eccentric training may be a viable modality for older individuals aiming to minimize future fall-risk and prolong physical independence.

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