| Sumario: | The aim was to investigate the possibility of increasing lower limb strength, dynamic balance and gait speed in frail older women with residual mobility problems following hip fracture by using a combined and functional training programme with a weighted belt. Three women aged 78-82 participated in this repeated single-subject experimental design study. The intervention phase consisted of a 10-week functional weight-bearing exercise programme performed twice a week. Main outcome measures were assessed twice a week during baseline and intervention phases. Graphic analyses showed substantial improvements in dynamic balance and gait speed, related to the intervention, in all three subjects. During intervention phase, gait speed improved by 16-38% and step test performance (dynamic balance) by 36-67%. The subjects also increased weight load in the belt by 25-80%. No progress was seen regarding isometric knee extension muscle strength, and the control variable, isometric hand-grip strength, remained unchanged. However, dynamic leg strength (one-repetition maximum in leg press, tested before and after intervention) showed substantial increase. Subjects experienced strong improvement and reported no discomfort. In conclusion, functional training with a weighted belt may be suitable for older women to alleviated mobility problems following hip fracture.
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