Citation

Kovacs E, Simon A, Petridisz AN, Erdős RL, Rozs F, Virág A. J. Sports Med. Phys. Fitness 2019; 59(7): 1162-1167.

Affiliation

Manu-Med, Private practitioner.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Edizioni Minerva Medica)

DOI

10.23736/S0022-4707.18.09205-8

PMID

30317843

Abstract

AIM: This study aimed to reveal the effects of a complex exercise programme on gait among older people through analysing the gait parameters in three groups: (1) older individuals participating in complex execise programme called 60+; (2) older individuals who were physically inactive; and (3) young individuals.

METHODS: Fifty seven community-living individuals were enrolled in this study. Variability of step length, step time, step width, and double support ratio as well as automaticity were measured.

RESULTS: We found that the variability of step length, step time, and double support ratio, as well as the cognitive automaticity index of physically inactive elderly individuals were significantly worse compared to both physically active elderly (step length p=0.007; step time p=0.002; double support ratio p=0.036; cognitive automaticity index p=0.006) and young individuals (step length p<0.001; step time p<0.001; double support ratio p=0.001; cognitive automaticity index p=0.003). However, the variability of gait step width did not differ among the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that 60+ programme has beneficial effects on gait parameters. Thus, the 60+ programme can enrich the range of geriatric exercise programmes aiming to improve gait safety.

Language: en