| Objective To explore the effects of regular five-animal exercises on the balance ability and bone mineral density (BMD) of elderly women, and to provide scientific basis for preventing falls and enhancing BMD in the elderly. Methods Experimental group (EG) performed new-style five-animal exercises (4 times/week, 70 minutes) for 24 weeks. Both the experimental group (EG, n=36) and the control group (CG, n=35) with matched age, height and weight had static and dynamic balance ability test, and lumbar spine and proximal femur BMD test. Results EG was compared with CG at 24 weeks. In the static balance test, the pressure center movement distance in the left and right direction with eyes open and closed significantly decreased by 12.3% and 13.1%, respectively (P<0.05), the pressure center movement speed in the left and right direction with eyes closed decreased by 12.9% (P<0.05), and the time of standing on one leg with eyes open and closed significantly increased by 32.5% and 49.4%, respectively (P<0.01). The dynamic balance movement speed in the left and right direction significantly decreased by 21.8% (P<0.01). There were no significant differences between the two groups on the static and dynamics indexes in the front and rear direction. Lumbar spine BMD increased by 6.8%, BMD of greater trochanter, ward’s triangle and femur neck increased in different degrees, but the changes were not significant (P<0.05). Conclusion In elderly women, 24 weeks of five-animal exercises significantly improved static and dynamic balance ability in the left and right direction, but there was no significant improvement in the front and rear direction. The improvement of lumbar spine and proximal femur BMD was not significant, but may delay the BMD decline caused by advanced ageing. |