Author(s): LICHTENSTEIN, E., KELLER, M., ROTH, R., LUDYGA, S., DONATH, L., FAUDE, O., Institution: TRAINING SCIENCES, Country: SWITZERLAND, Abstract-ID: 249

INTRODUCTION:
Alternative approaches to fall prevention programs for older adults have been called for. Agility-training, blending functional movements, stop-and-go actions, direction changes, strength, balance and cognitive tasks (Donath et al., 2016), appeared more effective than traditional methods (Lichtenstein et al., 2020). However, long-term applications lacked considerations of individual progression and reactive decision making (Lichtenstein et al., 2023). Adressing the need for quick, unforeseen reactions in fall-risk situations, we explored training tailored to individual progress with complex reactive elements to enhance neuromuscular and cognitive performance as well as psychosocial health surrogates in healthy older adults.
METHODS:
Forty-six healthy older adults (28 females, 69.5±6.8 years, 25.9±3.4 kg/m2) were randomized to a control (CON) or agility training (AT) group. AT, over a period of 16 weeks (2 times/week), involved cognitive, strength, balance, and reactive light system tasks, growing in complexity. Cognitive (Eriksen-flanker, Go/No-Go), neuromuscular (tandem stance, counter movement jump, grip strength, leg dynamometry), and gait tests under single and dual task conditions were used. Psychosocial health surveys (CES-D, WHO-QoL-Bref, ISI, FES-I, PSS) were als employed. Data was analyzed using linear mixed effects models, reporting group*time interactions standardized to baseline standard variation.
RESULTS:
Compliance was high (85.2±8.3%) and dropouts low (10.8%). After controlling for age, sex and BMI, analysis revealed, on average, at least small effects in favor of the AT group for Go/No-Go task parameters (0.18CONCLUSION:
In this group of very fit and healthy older adults, agility training seems insufficient to markedly improve neuromuscular parameters but could potentially serve to slightly improve response inhibition and mental health over a 16-week period.

References
Donath et al. (2016). Exercise-based fall prevention in the elderly: what about agility?. Sports medicine, 46, 143-149.
Lichtenstein et al. (2020). Agility-based exercise training compared to traditional strength and balance training in older adults: a pilot randomized trial. PeerJ, 8, e8781.
Lichtenstein et al. (2023). Agility training to integratively promote neuromuscular, cardiorespiratory and cognitive function in healthy older adults: a one-year randomized-controlled trial. European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, 20(1), 21.