Increasing Gait Performance in Elderly Women Using a Step Exercise Training Program.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of training on sensorimotor functions including muscle strength, motor time for the ankle, balance reaction and performance in six minute walk using a step exercise training program for a period of 8 weeks in 10 elderly women (mean age=79.8, SD=5.8) among residents of a health institution for the aged. As a result of the training program the follow factors significantly improved: the best mean torque for the dorsi flexor and the plantar flexor (0.12 ± 0.07 0.21 ± 0.07 Nm/kg, 0.44 ± 0.13 0.62 ± 0.19 Nm/kg); motor time at the dorsi flexor and the plantar flexor (61.0 ± 6.4 45.0 ± 4.2 msec, 55.1 ± 5.4 42.7 ± 5.1 msec); anteroposterior movement distance of the body's center of gravity (3.6 ± 2.0 5.6 ± 2.7 cm) and the six minute walk distance (256.4 ± 48.4 319.3 ± 65.4 m). Also, it was shown that there were significant correlations between ∆ the best mean torque and both ∆ the anteroposterior movement distance and ∆ the six minute walk distance (r=0.78 p<0.01, r=0.66 p<0.05). These results suggest that the training program increased gait performance.

Relative Therapeutic Efficacy of the Treadmill and Step Bench in Gait Rehabilitation of Hemiparetic Stroke Patients

“…These results were also in line with the report of Macko et al (2005) that treadmill exercise improves functional mobility in patients with chronic stroke. The improvement in gait ability after step bench exercise and hemiparetic limb loading was in consonance with the findings of Nishimoto et al (1999). It also agreed with the findings of Mercer et al (2000) and Hesse et al (1997), who found that loading of the paretic lower extremity relates to the improved performance of many functional tasks including walking, which also improved weight, equal weight transference and symmetry of gait.…”

“…Step exercise was shown to increase gait performance in the elderly (Nishimoto et al, 1999). It can also be used to measure aerobic fitness in apparently healthy subjects (Akinyele, 2007).…”

Muscle strength and muscle training after stroke

“…Sit-to-stands and step-ups, as well as other activities such as going from side-lying to sitting in bed, represent everyday activities that can be performed almost anywhere with a minimum of equipment. They have been shown to promote improved functional activity performance in older adults without a history of stroke as well (45)(46)(47). Activities such as knee flexion and extension on an isokinetic dynamometer or leg-presses with a weight stack for resistance are neither functional nor portable.…”

Adaptação funcional do aparelho respiratório aos efeitos do envelhecimento: aplicabilidade dos exercí­cios globais de força e resistência

“…Para a manutenção de uma vida independente, é indispensável no idoso, a atividade de locomoção. Indivíduos acima de 75 anos apresentam alterações neuro-musculares que, associadas à reduzida atividade diária, apresentam diminuição da função sensório-motora, causando, por sua vez, diminuição do equilíbrio e aumentando o risco de quedas, fraturas e confinamento ao leito [4]. Toda situação que leve o idoso à inatividade deve ser evitada, uma vez que a inatividade tem uma grande relação com a alta incidência de mortalidade no idoso por pneumonia comunitária [2].…”

“…O presente estudo de revisão bibliográfica tem como objetivo revisar os efeitos morfofuncionais do envelhecimento sobre a biomecânica respiratória e a eficácia da aplicação de exercícios globais de endurance e força muscular no processo de adaptação funcional do idoso. Isso se justifica pelo fato de que, apesar de o indivíduo idoso responder de maneira positiva aos estímulos solicitados, muitas vezes é subestimada a sua real capacidade física, ocasionando um subaproveitamento dos exercícios [3,4,5]. Por esta razão, as respostas morfológicas não são tão evidentes e tampouco favorecem, do ponto de vista funcional, a esperada qualidade de vida.…”