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Training in the functional movement circle to promote strength and mobility-related activities in older adults: a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

Movements of everyday life (e.g., climbing stairs, rising from a chair, walking) are essential for older adults to stay functional and independent. Due to the aging process, muscle mass decreases and balance abilities are reduced. One major criticism of former interventions is that implemented resistance and balance exercises were not associated with movements needed in older adults’ everyday life. The Functional Movement Circle for older adults (FuMoC) includes the combination of three aspects: resistance, balance, and movements of everyday life. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of training in the FuMoC with those of other training programs. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) with three intervention groups (IG1: FuMoC; IG2: resistance and balance training; IG3: coordination training) with a training period of 6 months and one inactive control group (CG) was conducted. At baseline (T1), after three (T2) and six (T3) months, parameters of strength (isometric strength measurement and One-Repetition Maximum test in leg and chest press) and mobility-related activities (gait analysis, Multisurface Obstacle Test for Older Adults (MSOT), Chair Rise Test (CRT), Timed Up & Go Test (TUG), Maximum Step Length Test (MSLT)) were assessed as primary outcomes. Data of 78 (43 males, 35 females) older adults were analyzed (mean age: 68.4 years). Significant (p < 0.05) interactions between time and group were observed in most of the primary outcomes. IG1 showed the highest improvement rates in MSOT (+16 %), CRT (+28 %), TUG (+14 %), and MSLT (+15 %); demonstrating advantages of training in the FuMoC compared to other training programs.

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Acknowledgments

Funding Source: Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology, German Sport University Cologne; ERGO-FIT GmbH & Co. KG, Pirmasens, Germany; TOYOTA Germany GmbH, Cologne, Germany (as a result of the first author being awarded first prize in the scientific TOYOTA competition); and HASOMED GmbH, Magdeburg, Germany. The funding sources played no role in any aspects of this study. We would like to thank all the participants who gave up their time to take part in the study and all the students who helped in terms of data acquisition and supervision of the training sessions. We would also like to express our gratitude to Wiebren Zijlstra, Hannah R. Marston, Mareike Dietzsch, Peter Preuß, Lena Laemmle, Benjamin Eppel, Fouad Fettah and Steve L Shack for their feedback, suggestions and constructive criticism.

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  1. Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Muengersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    Tobias Morat & Heinz Mechling

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  1. Tobias Morat
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Correspondence to Tobias Morat.

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Responsible editor: D.J.H. Deeg.

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Morat, T., Mechling, H. Training in the functional movement circle to promote strength and mobility-related activities in older adults: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Ageing 12, 105–118 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-014-0325-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-014-0325-9

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