Author(s): CHEN, E., GRIEF, R., BERGDAHL, A., Institution: CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, MONTREAL, Country: CANADA, Abstract-ID: 631

INTRODUCTION:
Falls are a leading cause of injury-related hospitalization for older women [1]. With advancing age, gait speed declines at a rate of 1.75cm/s per year [2] and speeds below 1 m/s are associated with a higher risk of falls [3]. These changes may be partially attributable to declines in lower limb strength [4]. Although regular exercise, particularly aerobic activity, can attenuate these losses, only 24.4% of older Canadian women meet physical activity guidelines [5]. Line dancing is a popular way to promote physical activity among older women, however the low-intensity may not provide adequate stimulus for training adaptations. Blood flow restriction (BFR) may offer a safe and novel way to overcome limitations in exercise intensity. This pilot study investigated whether adding BFR to a 10-week beginner community line-dancing class could improve the strength and gait speed of women aged 60+.
METHODS:
Participants (72.7±7.2 years) were randomized into BFR (n=7) and control groups (n=8). All participants completed 10 weeks of line-dancing classes (one 90-min session/week), at a local community centre. During classes, the BFR group wore 5cm elastic cuffs on their proximal thighs, tightened to a perceived pressure of 7/10. Gait was assessed using the 6-minute Walk Test (6MWT), while strength was evaluated using the 30-second Sit-to-Stand (30STS), and Calf-Raise Senior (CRS) at pre, mid and post. Friedman’s test with Wilcoxon Signed-Rank post-hoc was used to assess significance (ɑ≤.05).
RESULTS:
Both groups demonstrated significantly greater 6MWT speeds from pre-mid (BFR: p=.043; Control: p=.012) and pre-post (BFR: p=.028; Control: p=.012). Of the three participants identified as high-risk, all were in the control group, and two of the three progressed beyond the clinical cut-off of 1 m/s. Only the BFR group showed significant increases in repetitions for the 30STS (Pre-mid: p=.041; Pre-post: p=.041) and CRS (Mid-post: p=.018; Pre-post: p=.018). These improvements in CRS performance were also clinically meaningful (Pre-mid: MD=4.0±5.0; Mid-post: MD=7.1±5.1; Pre-post: MD=11.1±5.5).
CONCLUSION:
While both groups demonstrated improvements in gait parameters, the addition of BFR was associated with gains in lower limb strength. This fun, safe and novel program provides an accessible way for older women to reduce their risk of falls, maintain their independence and increase their quality of life. Additionally, BFR is cost-effective for community centres and can be easily integrated into existing line dancing programs. Larger-scale studies are planned, and an online dancing option is being developed to further increase accessibility.

References:
[1] Yao et al., HPCDP Journal, 2024
[2] Kirkwood et al., Maturitas, 2018
[3] Kyrdalen et al., Physiother Res Int, 2019
[4] Stotz et al., Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2023
[5] Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Infobase, 2025