Mixed Modal Training to Help Older Adults Maintain Postural Balance.

Objective: Older adults have poorer balance compared with younger adults, but exercise may slow this age-related loss. Although the best type of exercise to optimize balance gains remains unclear, it is likely that a training regimen incorporating several different types of exercise, termed (MMT) (popularized by CrossFit), would be effective. Accordingly, this study aims to assess whether regular MMT leads to improved balance in older adults.

Methods: Ten trained young (28 ± 4 years, minimum of 1 year MMT) and 22 older (67 ± 6 years) adults participated in this study. Older adults were divided into 2 groups: trained (minimum of 1 year MMT) and untrained. An electronic baropodometer was used to assess baseline postural balance using the postural sway (both open and closed eyes) test.

Results: Compared with untrained older adults, those who trained performed similarly to young trained adults in the postural sway test. In addition, with eyes closed, trained older adults demonstrated better center of pressure total displacement area than untrained older adults.

Conclusion: These data suggest that regular MMT can lead to a level of postural control in older adults similar to that observed in young adults. The favorable effects of MMT on postural control in older adults may be attributable to improvements in both muscle strength and proprioception.