Correlation between physical activity and the gait characteristics and ankle joint flexibility of the elderly

A Study on the Improvement of Walking Characteristics of the Elderly with Vibration Stimuli Applied to the Tibialis Anterior Tendon

The purpose of this study was to identify the gait pattern of the elderly with aging and to analyze the elderly's gait changes by the focal tendon vibratory stimulation. A total of 10 elderly males and 15 young adult males participated in this study. Using 3D motion analysis, we analyzed that difference between the elderly gait and young adults gait and the changes of the elderly gait by applying focal vibratory stimuli. As a result, specifically in the early stance, the elderly's gait was more flexed and the lower extremity extensors of the elderly worked harder. When the focal vibratory stimuli were applied, joint angle of the elderly was induced to that of the young adults. There was a reduction in demands for supporting bodies and progressing gait in the stance phase. This means that focal vibratory stimuli affect the gait of the elderly. Also, the changes of the gait of the elderly varied according to the characteristics of the focal vibratory stimuli. This implies that the activity of the motor may be dependent on vibratory stimuli characteristics.

Efeitos da prática de exercício físico sobre o desempenho da marcha e da mobilidade funcional em idosos

INTRODUÇÃO: A população idosa apresenta-se em um acelerado processo de crescimento associado ao aumento da expectativa de vida. As alterações no envelhecimento podem comprometer o padrão de marcha e equilíbrio dos idosos, predispondo-os a quedas. Como estratégia de prevenção, indica-se a atividade física regular direcionada para ganho de força, equilíbrio, propriocepção e melhoria da marcha. OBJETIVO: Verificar os efeitos de um programa de exercícios físicos na marcha e na mobilidade funcional de idosos. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Participaram do estudo oito idosos com mais de 60 anos (três homens e cinco mulheres). Os participantes realizaram duas avaliações antes e após a intervenção de seis meses: (1) marcha, pelo método de marcação de passarelas e (2) equilíbrio, por meio do Time Up and Go Test (TUGT). Para análise dos dados utilizou-se o software R (2.9.0). Para comparação dos dados, foi utilizado o teste t de Student pareado e o teste de correlação de Pearson, com p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se aumento no comprimento dos passos E (de 0,71 ± 0,19 para 0,80 ± 0,19 cm) e D (de 0,73 ± 0,17 para 0,81 ± 0,17 cm), e das passadas E (de 1,44 ± 0,36 para 1,59 ± 0,32 cm). Para o TUGT, além de forte correlação entre idade e velocidade da marcha e base de suporte, observou-se diminuição no tempo de realização do teste (de 13,92 ± 3,84 para 9,46 ± 1,68 segundos). CONCLUSÃO: O programa de exercícios físicos direcionados para a prevenção de quedas melhorou o desempenho funcional de idosos e alterou positivamente as variáveis da marcha.

The role of physical activity in changes in walking mechanics with age

While age-related declines in walking mechanics have been documented, it remains unclear if changes in walking mechanics with age occur as a natural consequence of aging and to what extent these changes are related to a reduction in fitness and physical activity with aging. The study aim was to determine if the walking mechanics of an older (>50) yet highly active population are different from a younger population (<40). Gait mechanics data for 79 middle-aged (50-64 yrs) and 54 older (65-80 yrs) individuals with ≥ 7500 steps/day, based on a 7 day activity monitoring history, and 33 younger adults (ages 18-40) were collected. The older subjects did not reduce self-selected walking speed relative to the younger subjects. However, the walking speed was maintained by increasing cadence while reducing stride-length for middle-aged and older subjects. Middle-aged and older adults had less ankle dorsi-flexion landing at heel-strike and older adults also had less plantar flexion at toe-off. Small decreases in the ankle dorsi-flexion moments (p=0.019, p=0.008) and increases in the hip extension moments (p=0.004, p=0.005) were found for two normalized walking speeds for the middle-aged and older adults compared to the young adults. These results provide quantitative evidence that increased activity with aging can mitigate declines in walking performance and mechanics with age. The high volume of walking activity in the older subjects did not fully prevent changes in gait mechanics, but may have minimized the magnitude of age-related changes on ambulatory function relative to other reports of older inactive subjects.

Analiza Parametrów Czasowo-Przestrzennych Chodu Osób Starszych w Aspekcie Treningu / Elders’ Gait Analysis Using Spatiotemporal Parameters in Aspects of Training

Wstąp. Inwolucyjne zmiany organizmu w procesie starzenia są wieloczynnikowe. a niektóre z nich mają wpływ na pogorszenie jakości lokomocji. Wyróżnia się wśród nich między innymi: spadek sił}' mięśniowej czy zmniejszenie zakresu ruchomości w stawach. Objawy tych zaburzeń manifestują się zmianą niektórych parametrów czasowo-przestrzennych chodu, przede wszystkim: zmniejszeniem prędkości chodu i długości kroku oraz zwiększeniem szerokości kroku.

Cel. Celem pracy była ocena wpływu różnych form treningowych na czasowo-przestrzenne parametry chodu osób starszych.

Materiał. Badaniem objęto 59 słuchaczy Uniwersytetu Trzeciego Wieku AWF Warszawa. Badania lekarskie i wysiłkowe pozwoliły wykluczyć wszelkie przeciwwskazania zdrowotne. Dokonano podziału na dwie grupy treningowe: TW - trening wszechstronny i TN - trening w pozycjach niskich. Badania ukończyło po 14 osób z każdej z grup.

Metody. Pomiary wykonano przy użyciu platformy FDM Zebris. która rejestrowała parametry czasowo-przestrzenne badanych. Ich zadaniem było trzykrotne przejście po platformie z naturalną dla siebie prędkością. Cykl treningów trwał 12 tygodni, zajęcia odbywały się dwa razy w tygodniu i trwały 45 minut. Zasadnicza różnica pomiędzy treningami polegała na eliminacji ćwiczeń lokomocji i ćwiczeń w pozycjach wysokich w grupie TN. Analizę statystyczną przeprowadzono przy użyciu oprogramowania Statistica.

Wyniki. W wyniku treningu wszechstronnego wśród badanych zaobserwowano istotną zmianę sześciu parametrów chodu:. długość kroku prawej kończyny dolnej. długości kroku prawej kończyny dolnej (jako % długości kończyny), czas kroku prawej i lewej kończyny dolnej, czas cyklu chodu oraz kadencji. Pozostałe parametry wykazały pewną tendencję, lecz ich zmian nie można przypisać przeprowadzonemu treningowi. Badani grapy TN nie wykazali istotnych zmian w analizowanych parametrach.

Wnioski. Zmiany jakości chodu są wieloczynnikowe. istnieje więc potrzeba dalszych dociekań. w celu ich rozpoznania oraz modyfikacji w ramach treningu czy terapii. Dobór ćwiczeń zastosowanych w treningu powinien strukturalnie odzwierciedlać docelowy element, któiy ma być kształtowany.

Asymmetry of the active nonweightbearing foot and ankle range of motion for dorsiflexion-plantar flexion and its coupled movements in adults

Asymmetries in ankle range of motion (ROM) have been reported, but often the uninvolved limb is used as a reference in clinical practice. The study wanted to quantify the intraindividual asymmetries in dorsi-plantar flexion foot and ankle ROM and its coupled foot movements. Active triplanar nonweightbearing ROM of the foot and ankle was recorded in young healthy adults (30 male volunteers, mean age 22.8 years; 35 female volunteers, mean age 23.8 years) using an optoelectronic set-up. The sagittal plane movement (mean ROM female subjects right side 71.3 degrees, left side 71.4 degrees, P > 0.05; mean ROM male subjects right side 69 degrees , left side 68.9 degrees, P > 0.05; sex difference, P < 0.001) was coupled with frontal (mean ROM female subjects right side 16.6 degrees, left side 14.8 degrees, P > 0.05; male subjects right side 17 degrees, left side 15.3 degrees; P > 0.05; no sex difference) and horizontal (mean ROM female subjects right side 19.6 degrees, left side 18.8 degrees, P < 0.001; male subjects right side 17.6 degrees, left side 16.2 degrees, P < 0.001; sex < 0.001) plane motions. Individual fluctuating asymmetries up to 15 degrees (principal movement), and up to 29 degrees (associated movements) were measured. Overall, 20% of female and 34% of male subjects had principal plane asymmetries >5 degrees, and 50% of the subjects had asymmetries >5 degrees in the associated movements. In young adults, individual asymmetries in ankle joint complex dorsi-plantar flexion should be taken into account when using the uninvolved, contralateral limb as a reference for clinical examination.

Gait pattern classification of healthy elderly men based on biomechanical data

OBJECTIVES

To distinguish the gait patterns of young subjects from those of elderly men using three-dimensional (3D) gait data, to determine if elderly subjects displayed other than a typical gait pattern, and to identify which parameters best describe them.

DESIGN

Nonrandomized study in which video and force plate data were collected at the subject's own free walking speed and used in a 3D inverse dynamic model. Cluster analysis was chosen to identify the gait families, and analyses of variance were performed to determine which parameters were different.

SETTING

A gait laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample of convenience involved a single but mixed group consisting of 16 able-bodied elderly subjects (mean age, 62yrs) and 16 able-bodied young subjects aged between 20 and 35 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Phasic and temporal gait parameters, as well as the 3D muscle powers developed in the joints of the right lower limb during the gait cycle.

RESULTS

The walking patterns in elderly subjects were found to be different from those of the young adults. Three elderly gait families or groups forming a specific gait pattern were identified, and differences were found in the phasic and temporal parameters as well as in 6 peak muscle powers. Four of the peak powers occurred in the sagittal plane, and half of them were related to the hip.

CONCLUSIONS

Biomechanical parameters can be used to classify the gait patterns of young and elderly men using cluster analysis rather than age alone. The muscle powers in elderly subjects are perturbed throughout the gait cycle and not only at push-off. It appears that the plane in which the peak powers occurred was related to their occurrence in the gait cycle. Variability in the gait patterns of elderly subjects could reflect natural adaptations or compensations. These should not be indicative of a deficient gait or be misconstrued as some age-related pathology.

Exercise, mobility and aging

The elderly population is growing both in size and in proportion of the total population. The costs to the community of the elderly being in poor health are also growing proportionately. The beneficial effects of exercise on various physiological and psychological parameters in the elderly have been well established. The effects of exercise on the mobility and independence of the elderly are also of primary concern, their maintenance being an important exercise goal. Impaired balance and gait are the 2 most significant risk factors for limited mobility and falls in the elderly. It is important to understand the effects of aging and exercise on these risk factors.