The Braking Force in Walking: Age-Related Differences and Improvement in Older Adults With Exergame Training

Abstract

The purposes of this present research were, in the first study, to determine whether age impacts a measure of postural control (the braking force in walking) and, in a second study, to determine whether exergame training in physically-simulated sport activity would show transfer, increasing the braking force in walking and also improving balance assessed by clinical measures, functional fitness, and health-related quality of life in older adults. For the second study, the authors developed an active video game training program (using the Wii system) with a pretest-training-posttest design comparing an experimental group (24 1-hr sessions of training) with a control group. Participants completed a battery comprising balance (braking force in short and normal step conditions), functional fitness (Senior Fitness Test), and health-related quality of life (SF-36). Results show that 12 weeks of video game-based exercise program training improved the braking force in the normal step condition, along with the functional fitness of lower limb strength, cardiovascular endurance, and motor agility, as measured by the Senior Fitness Test. Only the global mental dimension of the SF-36 was sensitive to exergame practice. Exergames appear to be an effective way to train postural control in older adults. Because of the multimodal nature of the activity, exergames provide an effective tool for remediation of age-related problems.

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“…This result is similar to that verified by Maillot et al (2014) with the same test after a 12 weeks' intervention by means of sporting exergame. Games such as boxing, tennis, table tennis and bowling, included in the intervention program, require a major involvement of the upper limbs, contributing to the increase of the arm curl test's outcome.…”

“…Although the aerobic group showed an improvement in the 2MST performance, the differences were not significant. Positive effects on aerobic endurance after interventions with sports exergame have been previously documented (Maillot et al, 2012;Maillot et al, 2014). Maillot et al (2012) found increased endurance (14%) after intervention with sports exergame assessed by the 6-minute walk test.…”

“…Studies with older adults showed that interventions with different games of exergame can improve cognitive and physical functions (Maillot, Perrot & Hartley, 2012) and the quality of life (Maillot, Perrot, Hartley, & Do, 2014) of their practitioners. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of exergamingbased exercise program on the functional fitness of older people (Maillot et al, 2012;Maillot et al, 2014).…”

“…However, few studies have evaluated the effects of exergamingbased exercise program on the functional fitness of older people (Maillot et al, 2012;Maillot et al, 2014). Some studies have used balance sets and force plates to assess the balance (Padala et al, 2012), strength and endurance of the lower limbs (Jorgensen, Laessoe, Hendriksen, Nielsen, & Aagaard, 2013;Kim, Son, Ko, & Yoon, 2013).…”

“…However, other physical parameters such as aerobic endurance need to be better investigated. Furthermore, although some interventions with sports exergame (which simulate sport practices) have been explored (Maillot et al, 2012;Maillot et al, 2014), it is also necessary to assess the effects of these games compared to conventional exercises. Game modalities like "cybercycle" (Anderson-Hanley et al, 2012), and balance games (yoga, slalom skiing) (Padala et al, 2012) were compared to conventional activities (i.e., stationary bikes and walking), with similar results on cognitive functions and balance when evaluated.…”