Fax +41 61 306 12 34 E-Mail karger@karger.ch www.karger.com Clinical Section / Original Paper Gerontology DOI: 10.1159/000343152 Effects of Core Instability Strength Training on Trunk Muscle Strength, Spinal Mobility, Dynamic Balance and Functional Mobility in Older Adults Urs Granacher a Andre Lacroix b Thomas Muehlbauer a Katrin Roettger b Albert Gollhofer b a Department of Training and Movement Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, and b Institute of Sport and Sport Science, Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany 10 m on an optoelectric walkway, the Functional Reach test) and functional mobility (Timed Up and Go test) were addi- tionally tested. Results: Program compliance was excellent with participants of the INT group completing 92% of the training sessions. Significant group ! test interactions were found for the maximal isometric strength of the trunk flexors (34%, p ! 0.001), extensors (21%, p ! 0.001), lateral flexors (right: 48%, p ! 0.001; left: 53%, p ! 0.001) and left rotators (42%, p ! 0.001) in favor of the INT group. Further, training- related improvements were found for spinal mobility in the sagittal (11%, p ! 0.001) and coronal plane (11%, p = 0.06) di- rections, for stride velocity (9%, p ! 0.05), the coefficient of variation in stride velocity (31%, p ! 0.05), the Functional Reach test (20%, p ! 0.05) and the Timed Up and Go test (4%, p ! 0.05) in favor of the INT group. Conclusion: CIT proved to be a feasible exercise program for seniors with a high ad- herence rate. Age-related deficits in measures of trunk mus- cle strength, spinal mobility, dynamic balance and function- al mobility can be mitigated by CIT. This training regimen could be used as an adjunct or even alternative to tradition- al balance and/or resistance training. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel Key Words Elderly  Gait  Muscle strength  Physical performance  Postural balance Abstract Background: Age-related postural misalignment, balance deficits and strength/power losses are associated with im- paired functional mobility and an increased risk of falling in seniors. Core instability strength training (CIT) involves exer- cises that are challenging for both trunk muscles and pos- tural control and may thus have the potential to induce ben- efits in trunk muscle strength, spinal mobility and balance performance. Objective: The objective was to investigate the effects of CIT on measures of trunk muscle strength, spi- nal mobility, dynamic balance and functional mobility in se- niors. Methods: Thirty-two older adults were randomly as- signed to an intervention group (INT; n = 16, aged 70.8 8 4.1 years) that conducted a 9-week progressive CIT or to a con- trol group (n = 16, aged 70.2 8 4.5 years). Maximal isometric strength of the trunk flexors/extensors/lateral flexors (right, left)/rotators (right, left) as well as of spinal mobility in the sagittal and the coronal plane was measured before and af- ter the intervention program. Dynamic balance (i.e. walking Received: July 12, 2012 Accepted: September 4, 2012 Published online: October 24, 2012 Prof. Dr. Urs Granacher Cluster of Excellency in Cognition Sciences Department of Training and Movement Sciences, University of Potsdam Am Neuen Palais 10, Haus 12, DE–14469 Potsdam (Germany) E-Mail urs.granacher  @  uni-potsdam.de © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel 0304–324X/12/0000–0000$38.00/0 Accessible online at: www.karger.com/ger