Musculoskeletal strength, balance performance, and self-efficacy in elderly Ving Tsun Chinese martial art practitioners: Implications for fall prevention

Shirley Siu Ming FONG, Sheung Mei Shamay NG, Karen P. Y. LIU, Yiu Chung Marco PANG, Joseph Hun-wei LEE, Wai Yee Joanne CHUNG, Priscillia L. LAM, Xia GUO

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlespeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives. To (1) compare the bone strength, lower limb muscular strength, functional balance performance, and balance self-efficacy between Ving Tsun (VT) martial art practitioners and nonpractitioners and (2) identify the associations between lower limb muscular strength, functional balance performance, and balance self-efficacy among the VT-trained participants. Methods. Thirty-five VT practitioners (mean age ± SD = 62.7 ± 13.3 years) and 49 nonpractitioners (mean age ± SD = 65.9 ± 10.5 years) participated in the study. The bone strength of the distal radius, lower limb muscular strength, functional balance performance, and balance self-efficacy were assessed using an ultrasound bone sonometer, the five times sit-to-stand test (FTSTS), the Berg balance scale (BBS), and the Chinese version of the activities-specific balance confidence scale, respectively. A multivariate analysis of covariance was performed to compare all the outcome variables between the two groups. Results. Elderly VT practitioners had higher radial bone strength on the dominant side , greater lower limb muscular strength , better functional balance performance , and greater balance confidence than the nonpractitioners. Additionally, only the FTSTS time revealed a significant association with the BBS score . Conclusions. VT may be a suitable health-maintenance exercise for the elderly. Our findings may inspire the development of VT fall-prevention exercises for the community-dwelling healthy elderly. Copyright © 2014 Shirley S. M. Fong et al.
Original languageEnglish
Article number402314
JournalEvidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Volume2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2014

Citation

Fong, S. S. M., Ng, S. S. M., Liu, K. P. Y., Pang, M. Y. C., Lee, H. W., Chung, J. W. Y., et al. (2014). Musculoskeletal strength, balance performance, and self-efficacy in elderly Ving Tsun Chinese martial art practitioners: Implications for fall prevention. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014, Article 402314.

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