Citation

Donath L, Zahner L, Roth R, Fricker L, Cordes M, Hanssen H, Schmidt-Trucksäss A, Faude O. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 2013; 113(3): 661-669.

Affiliation

Institute of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Basel, Birsstrasse 320B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland, lars.donath@unibas.ch.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00421-012-2471-0

PMID

22915174

Abstract

Impaired balance and gait performance increase fall-risk in seniors. Acute effects of different exercise bouts on gait and balance were not yet addressed. Therefore, 19 healthy seniors (10 women, 9 men, age: 64.6 ± 3.2 years) were examined on 3 days. After exhaustive treadmill testing, participants randomly completed a 2-km treadmill walking test (76 ± 8 % VO(2max)) and a resting control condition. Standing balance performance (SBALP) was assessed by single limb-eyes opened (SLEO) and double limb-eyes closed (DLEC) stance. Gait parameters were collected at comfortable walking velocity. A condition × time interaction of center of pressure path length (COP(path)) was observed for both balance tasks (p < 0.001). Small (Cohen's d = 0.42, p = 0.05) and large (d = 1.04, p < 0.001) COP(path) increases were found after 2-km and maximal exercise during DLEC. Regarding SLEO, slightly increased COP(path) occurred after 2-km walking (d = 0.29, p = 0.65) and large increases after exhaustive exercise (d = 1.24, p < 0.001). No significant differences were found for gait parameters. Alterations of SBALP after exhaustive exercise might lead to higher fall-risk in seniors. Balance changes upon 2-km testing might be of minor relevance. Gait is not affected during single task walking at given velocities.

Language: en