The Effects of Sand Exercise Program on Balance Capability, Extremity Muscle Activity, and Inflammatory Markers in Older Women

Abstract

PURPOSE The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of sand surface exercise compare with general surface exercise on balance capability, extremity muscle activity, and inflammatory markers in older women. METHODS A total of 40 subjects aged over 65 years were enrolled for this study. They were assigned into two groups (20 subjects in each group): 1) exercise on sand (SG); and 2) exercises on general ground (HG). RESULTS There was no interaction effect between group and time on body composition and blood pressure. There were significant difference in overall, anterior/posterior, medial/lateral between the SG and HG. And changes in proprioceptive sensation were significantly different between the two groups. Knee extension was also significantly higher in the HG than in the sand group. There were significant difference in the tibialis anterior, the gastrocnemius, and biceps femoris between the SG and HG. There were significant increases in respective muscle activities after exercises in SG. After the exercise program, there was a significant difference between times in C-reactive protein (CRP). There were significant difference in rheumatoid arthritis factor (RA factor) factor between the SG and HG. Also, SG resulted in a greater reduction in RA factor than the HG. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that sand exercise program can produce benefits with regard to balancing capacity functional improvement, reduction of inflammatory markers, and prevention of proprioceptive sensation in the older women, thus contributing to a better quality of life.

Keywords

• sand exercise
• balancing capability
• extremity muscle activity
• inflammatory markers