Background: In this study, we evaluated the effects of a combined exercise program incorporating a postural balance apparatus on the fall-related physical fitness and blood vessel elasticity of older women. Methods: The participants were 36 women aged 65 years or older who did not engage in regular exercise. They were randomly divided into an exercise group (n = 18) and a control group (n = 18). The exercise group underwent a combined exercise program for 12 weeks (60 minutes a day for 5 days a week), whereas the control group engaged in no physical activity or exercise during the 12 weeks. The combined exercise program consisted of aerobic exercise (such as step-ups and the short foot exercise), resistance exercises (such as heel raises, semi-squats, and weight-bearing closed-chain exercises), and joint mobility exercises (such as step-ups with pelvic floor muscle engagement, lower body stretching, and back stretching) to be performed on a postural balance apparatus, which provided an inclined and elastic surface to facilitate ankle dorsiflexion, joint mobility, and proprioceptive stimulation. The exercises were performed at a moderate intensity, maintaining a perceived exertion rating between 11 and 14, for 12 weeks. The outcome variables were measured through experimental procedures. The collected data were analyzed using means, standard deviations, and 2-way repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: We found a significant improvement in the range of motion for left ankle dorsiflexion in the lying and seated positions, as well as right ankle dorsiflexion in the lying, seated, and prone positions, in the exercise group compared to the control group ( P < .05). Furthermore, the atherosclerosis left brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity, atherosclerosis right brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate significantly decreased in the exercise group compared to the control group ( P < .05). Conclusions: These results confirmed that the 12-week apparatus-assisted combined exercise program, unlike conventional programs, effectively improves ankle dorsiflexion, vascular elasticity, and cardiovascular health in older women.
Lee et al. (Fri,) studied this question.