Fall prevention with robotic personal trainers ????

In Switzerland, almost 300'000 people experience a fall each year. Up to 35% of people aged over 65 years fall at least once a year – causing a great deal of suffering and expense. Major fall risk factors are age-related declines in muscle mass, strength, speed, power and cognitive function.

Losses in skeletal muscle mass and overall strength translate directly to functional challenges because they lead to a decrease of available force and power [1]. The resulting decline in physical performance limits the ability to perform basic activities of daily living, such as getting up from a chair, climbing stairs or preventing a fall. Many studies and meta-studies have reported that the most effective intervention for fall prevention is a combination of muscle strength and balance exercises [2].

For people aged over 65 years, however, the annual decline of muscle power (3–6%) is larger than the annual decline of muscle mass and strength (1–3%) [3]. Therefore, for daily activities such as preventing a fall, the ability to move quickly and with a high force (emphasizing muscle power) is more often the limiting factor than the ability to produce a high force (emphasizing muscle strength). This fact suggests that to reduce the risk of falls, muscle power sessions need to be included in the training and rehabilitation of older adults. An increase in lower extremity muscle power, besides benefitting balance and reaction time, also contributes to better cognitive function, improved mobility, increased vitality and lower mortality [4][5].

Effectively preventing falls with a dedicated fall prevention program critically relies on the possibility to train, test and track an invidual’s cognitive, motor and physical performance. The cloud-based ddrobotec? personal trainers are designed precisely for this task. They offer a fun and simple muscle-centric testing and training platform that everybody can use.

Unlike any other diagnostics and training system, ddrobotec? measures, exercises and improves the interaction between the central and peripherous system and the lower extremity. Its personalized and gamified user experience motivates users to participate in and adhere to programs of high velocity resistance training (30–60% 1RM). Especially in older adults, this moderate load training promotes greater functional improvements than resistance training performed at slower velocities [6].

The task-oriented and gamified workouts on the ddrobotec? systems trigger the brain’s intrinsic pleasure and reward mechanisms, ensuring a post-workout boost of dopamine. This empowers people to develop habits with a long-lasting positive impact on their physical and mental health and their lifestyles.

Stay strong, live long and prosper. ??

References

[1] Delmonico, M.J. et al (2009). Longitudinal study of muscle strength, quality and adipose tissue infiltration. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 90:1579–1585.

[2] Karinkanta, S. et al. (2015). Combined resistance and balance-jumping exercise reduces older women’s injurious falls and fractures: 5-year follow-up study. Age and Ageing, 44(5):784–789.

[3] Schaun, G.Z. et al (2022). High-velocity resistance training mitigates physiological and functional impairements in middle-aged and older adults with and without mobility-limitation. GeroScience, 44(3):1175–1197.

[4] El Hadochi, M. et al. (2022). Effectiveness of power training compared to strength training in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur. Rev. Aging Phys. Act. 19(1).

[5] Fragala, M.S. et al. (2019). Resistance training for older adults: position statement from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. J. of Strength and Conditioning Research, 33(8).

[6] Straight, C.R. et al (2016). Effects of resistance training on lower-extremity power in middle-aged and older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Sports Med. 46:353–364.