The Effect of Functional Training on Improving Muscle Strength, Flexibility, and Balance in Overweight Elderly People
Irtiqa Imini Pishgiri Masdumiyat (Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention),
Vol. 12 No. 4 (1403),
2 November 2025
,
Page 276 - 260
https://doi.org/10.22037/iipm.v12i4.48223
Abstract
Background and Aim: Today, the growing trend of the elderly population in the world is considered a clinical priority, and given the limitations resulting from this trend, it has become a challenge to develop effective methods and policies to improve and promote their motor function and independence. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of functional exercises on improving muscle strength, flexibility, and balance in overweight elderly people.
Methods: This study was an applied and semi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. In which 50 elderly women aged 60 to 75 years living in Neyshabur city were selected based on the study entry criteria and divided into two groups of 25: experimental (functional exercises) and control (no exercise). To measure mobility (dynamic balance), upper and lower limb strength, upper and lower limb flexibility, and static balance, the stand-up and walk (TUG) tests, the number of arm raises and chair sit-ups in 30 seconds, reaching the hands from behind and toes in a sitting position, and the tandem standing test were used, respectively. The experimental group performed 6 sessions of functional training per week for six weeks. To compare the pre-test and post-test, repeated measures analysis of variance test was used in SPSS software.
Results: The average age of the participants in the study was 63 years and their body mass index was 27 kg. The findings of the present study showed that functional training had a significant difference in mobility, shoulder girdle flexibility, lower limb flexibility, upper body muscle strength, static balance with eyes open and closed, and lower body muscle strength of elderly women compared to the pre-test.
Conclusion: According to the findings of the study, performing functional exercises for 6 weeks improved muscle strength, flexibility, and dynamic balance in overweight elderly people. Therefore, performing such exercises is recommended as a safe intervention with the aim of preventing falls in old age, improving physical fitness factors, and ultimately improving their functional fitness.
Please cite this article as:
Dashti A, Rahimi NM, Azim Khani A. The Effect of Functional Training on Improving Muscle Strength, Flexibility, and Balance in Overweight Elderly People Irtiqa Imini Pishgiri Masdumiyat .2024;12(4):260-276. https://doi.org/10.22037/iipm.v11i3.48223
- Functional training; functional fitness; muscle strength; elderly; dynamic balance
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