Results concerning the association of chronic physical activity and motor performance are mixed and seem to be influenced by the study design , kind of exercise , motor task , and exercise intensity .
Regarding motor learning , a high physical activity or cardiovascular fitness level seems to boost the initial phase of motor learning ; results differ with respect to motor retention .
Overall , ( motor-coordinative ) intervention studies seem to be more promising than cross-sectional studies
Upper extremity motor performance declines with increasing age .
However , older adults need to maintain , learn new and relearn known motor tasks .
Research with young adults indicated that regular and acute physical activity might facilitate motor performance and motor learning processes .
Therefore , this review aim ed to examine the association between chronic physical activity and acute bouts of exercise on motor performance and motor learning in upper extremity motor tasks in older adults .
A Five-Week Exercise Program Can Reduce Falls and Improve Obstacle Avoidance in the Elderly
Background : Falls in the elderly are a major health problem . Although exercise programs have been shown to reduce the risk of falls , the optimal exercise components , as well as the working mechanisms that underlie the effectiveness of these programs , have not yet been established . Objective : To test whether the Nijmegen Falls Prevention Program was effective in reducing falls and improving st and ing balance , balance confidence , and obstacle avoidance performance in community-dwelling elderly people . Methods : A total of 113 elderly with a history of falls participated in this study ( exercise group , n = 79 ; control group , n = 28 ; dropouts before r and omization , n = 6 ) .  Exercise sessions were held twice weekly for 5 weeks . Pre- and post-intervention fall monitoring and quantitative motor control assessment s were performed . The outcome measures were the number of falls , st and ing balance and obstacle avoidance performance , and balance confidence scores . Results : The number of falls in the exercise group decreased by 46 % ( incidence rate ratio ( IRR ) 0.54 , 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) 0.36–0.79 ) compared to the number of falls during the baseline period and by 46 % ( IRR 0.54 , 95 % CI 0.34–0.86 ) compared to the control group . Obstacle avoidance success rates improved significantly more in the exercise group ( on average 12 % ) compared to the control group ( on average 6 % ) . Quiet stance and weight-shifting measures did not show significant effects of exercise . The exercise group also had a 6 % increase of balance confidence scores . Conclusion : The Nijmegen Falls Prevention Program was effective in reducing the incidence of falls in otherwise healthy elderly . There was no evidence of improved control of posture as a mechanism underlying this result . In contrast , an obstacle avoidance task indicated that subjects improved their performance . Laboratory obstacle avoidance tests may therefore be better instruments to evaluate future fall prevention studies than posturographic balance assessment
Results concerning the association of chronic physical activity and motor performance are mixed and seem to be influenced by the study design , kind of exercise , motor task , and exercise intensity .
Regarding motor learning , a high physical activity or cardiovascular fitness level seems to boost the initial phase of motor learning ; results differ with respect to motor retention .
Overall , ( motor-coordinative ) intervention studies seem to be more promising than cross-sectional studies
Upper extremity motor performance declines with increasing age .
However , older adults need to maintain , learn new and relearn known motor tasks .
Research with young adults indicated that regular and acute physical activity might facilitate motor performance and motor learning processes .
Therefore , this review aim ed to examine the association between chronic physical activity and acute bouts of exercise on motor performance and motor learning in upper extremity motor tasks in older adults .