The Effects of Uniquely-Processed Titanium on Balance and Walking Performance in Healthy Older Adults

Abstract

The increased risk of falls associated with advancing age has increased demand for methods to improve balance and mobility. The primary purpose of the study was to determine whether wearing Aqua Titan-treated stockings could improve balance and walking performance in an older population; secondary was to elucidate the mechanisms. In a randomized, double-blind crossover, 16 healthy older adults (age, 67.9 ± 4.2 years; BMI, 24.8 ± 3.1 kg/m2) performed two 4-day trials composed of baseline measures and fatiguing exercise on Day 1, with recovery measures at 14, 38 and 62 h post-exercise, wearing Aqua Titan and control stockings. Balance, walking performance, triceps surae stretch reflex, ankle range of motion and gastrocnemius muscle microvascular perfusion, blood flow and oxygen consumption were measured at baseline and during recovery. Aqua Titan had no effect on the microvascular parameters, but increased total ankle range of motion at 38 h (2.4°; 95% CI ± 1.8°) and 62 h (2.7°; ±1.7°), contributed to by increases in dorsiflexion and plantar flexion. There was decreasing persistence in the medial-lateral center of pressure movement at 38 h (q = 0, −0.0635 ± 0.0455), compared to control stockings. Aqua Titan garments hold potential for improving balance and mobility in older adults in the days following a bout of fatiguing exercise. The proposed mechanisms associated with enhanced sensory feedback require further exploration.

Utilisation of far infrared-emitting garments for optimising performance and recovery in sport: Real potential or new fad? A systematic review

“…A total of eleven studies were ultimately identified and included in this review (Table 1). Thereafter, selected studies were classified into two different categories according to their experimental design: six studies investigated the 'effects of FIR-emitting garments worn during exercise' [16,[30][31][32][33][34], and five studies investigated the 'effects of FIR-emitting garments worn post-exercise' [35][36][37][38][39].…”

“…All the studies had samples sizes of five to twenty participants, with only males [30,31,34] or a mixture of female and male participants [16,32,33]. In the studies testing FIR-emitting garments post-exercise, participants were recreationally active [36][37][38] or elite male athletes [35,39], and their age ranged from 19 to 26 years except in one study where the participants were > 60 years old [37]. Sample sizes ranged from 14 to 22 participants.…”

“…Nine of the eleven studies used an acute exercise modality [16,[30][31][32][33][34][35]37,38], and two studies used consecutive bouts of exercise (i.e. two sessions per day separated by 3 to 4 hours over one day to 2 weeks) [36,39].…”

“…In ten studies, FIR-emitting garments were applied on the lower body (i.e. feet, thigh, calves or whole leg covered) [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39], in seven studies it was on the upper body (i.e. arm, forearm, trunk or all covered simultaneously) [16,[30][31][32][33][34]36], and in six studies garments covered both the lower and upper body simultaneously [30][31][32][33][34]36].…”

“…In studies testing the garments during exercise, the garments were applied on the lower and upper body [30][31][32][33][34] except in one study using only a FIR-emitting t-shirt [16]. In contrast, in studies testing the garments post-exercise, only the lower limbs were covered [35,[37][38][39] except in one study using the garments on both the lower and upper body [36]. Garments were t-shirts (4 studies; [16,30,33,34]), long sleeved shirts (3 studies; [31,32,36]), shorts (2 studies; [33,34]), trousers (7 studies; [30][31][32]35,36,38,39]) and shin guards or PLOS ONE [34,37]).…”