Citation

Aranda-García S, Iricibar A, Planas A, Prat-Subirana JA, Angulo-Barroso RM. J. Aging Phys. Act. 2015; 23: 78-89.

Affiliation

School of Health and Sports Science, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain and the Health and Applied Sciences Department, INEFC-Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Human Kinetics Publishers)

DOI

10.1123/JAPA.2012-0326

PMID

25535327

Abstract

This study evaluates the separate effect and retention of 12-week traditional (TE) and horse (HE) exercise programs on physical function in healthy older participants (61 to 87 years old). Thirty-eight participants were randomly assigned to three groups: TE (n = 17), HE (n = 10), and control group (n = 11). TE and HE underwent a supervised exercise program (3 day/week). Maximal gait speed, muscle strength, and body balance were assessed at weeks 0, 12, and 16. Only TE and HE displayed significant improvements (P <.05) in knee extensor strength, and only HE had faster gait speed. Marginal balance improvements were found only in HE in the medial-lateral direction. However, TE showed larger improvements in handgrip than HE. The largest retention was in knee extensor strength but most of the exercise effects were lost in the follow-up. Besides TE, exercise with a horse may be an alternative option to older adults, provided that they want to interact with the animal.

Language: en