Perturbation-based vs multicomponent training in adults over 70: effects on balance and mobility

Traditional multicomponent exercise programs generally focus on proactive balance control, whereas perturbation-based training

Aims: to improve reactive responses to unexpected destabilizing events. The

Aim: of this study was to compare the effects of a perturbation-based multicomponent exercise program with those of a traditional multicomponent program on strength, balance, and functional mobility in community-dwelling women aged over 70 years. Sixty-one women were randomly allocated to a perturbation-based training group (PT; n = 32) or a traditional multicomponent training group (MT; n = 29). Both groups completed an eight-week intervention consisting of two weekly sessions lasting 45 minutes. In the PT group, the central phase of each session included progressively challenging perturbation tasks characterized by increasing environmental unpredictability and sensory constraints, whereas the MT group performed light-to-moderate multicomponent exercises without systematic perturbations. Physical performance was assessed before and after the intervention using functional tests related to strength, balance, and mobility. Significant group × time interactions were observed for all outcomes. The PT group demonstrated significant improvements across all variables, while the MT group improved only in selected tests. These

Findings: suggest that perturbation-based training may produce broader improvements in strength, balance, and functional mobility than traditional multicomponent exercise in women aged over 70 years.