Interferência mútua entre atividade visual e atividade motora em jovens e idosos

Educational status influences cognitive-motor learning in older adults: going to university provides greater protection against aging than going to high school

OBJECTIVE

To investigate if middle-aged and older adults with a higher education would differ from those with an average education in cognitive-motor tasks involving lower limb function.

METHODS

A walking version of the Trail Making Test (Walking Executive Function Task, [WEFT]) was used. Eighty volunteers (40: 50-65 years; 40: 66-80 years) were subdivided into average (6-11years of education) and higher education (12-17 years). They received two training sessions (session 1: eight repetitions, session 2: four repetitions), with a one week-interval between them. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was performed before and after the training.

RESULTS

Volunteers with an average education showed longer times on the WEFT than those with a higher education. Older adults showed lower retention than middle-aged adults (p < 0.001). The TUG was faster after the WEFT training (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The impact of education was observed when locomotion was associated with cognitive tasks. Average education resulted in poorer performance and learning than higher education, mainly in older adults. Gait speed increased after training.

Dupla tarefa e mobilidade funcional de idosos ativos

INTRODUÇÃO: Define-se "dupla tarefa" como a capacidade de efetivar uma ação primordial incorporada a uma segunda atividade. Em idosos, é presumível que a execução de ações simultâneas comprometa o equilíbrio postural, favorecendo quedas nesta população. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o efeito de duplas tarefas na mobilidade funcional de idosos ativos e correlacionar o tempo utilizado para sua realização com a idade do indivíduo. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal e observacional, que utiliza amostra de conveniência. Dezenove idosos do Programa Universidade Aberta à Terceira Idade da Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, com idade entre 60 e 87 anos, classificados como ativos pelo International Physical Activity Questionnaire IPAQ e com escore mínimo de 23 pontos no Miniexame do Estado Mental MEEM foram avaliados em nove testes sequenciais. O primeiro deles exigia uma única tarefa, representada pelo teste Timed Up & Go TUG, utilizado para avaliação da mobilidade funcional de idosos. O TUG foi repetido em todos os demais testes, que incorporaram uma segunda ação - atividade manual em dois testes e atividade cognitiva em seis testes. RESULTADOS: Foram observados valores maiores em relação ao tempo gasto pelos idosos na realização de tarefas associadas, tanto motoras quanto motora-cognitivas, quando comparadas com a tarefa simples. Correlação positiva entre idade e os testes que incorporam atividade cognitiva à realização do TUG foi estabelecida. CONCLUSÃO: Idosos ativos necessitam de maior tempo para a realização da dupla tarefa motora envolvendo funções distintas e coordenadas entre os membros superiores, o mesmo ocorrendo para a execução das duplas tarefas motora-cognitivas. Quanto maior a idade, maior o tempo para realização de duplas tarefas, principalmente quando associadas a atividades que exijam memória de curto prazo.

Effects of a dual-task training on dynamic and static balance control of pre-frail elderly: a pilot study

INTRODUCTION: This quasi-experimental study is justified by the need to determine the effects of an intervention strategy aimed at improving the static and dynamic balance in pre-frail elderly women. We hypothesized that dual-task training on a treadmill, compared to simple training on a treadmill,may promote statistical difference in postural control of this group. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to verify the measures of postural control in a group of pre-frail elderly after a physical therapy intervention program based on dual-task treadmill training. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected six female pre-frail elderly subjects living in the community. The research was conducted twice a week for 45 minutes, for four weeks. The simple task training consisted only in the use of a treadmill and the dual-task training consisted on the use of a treadmill associated with visual stimuli. Only the intervention group was submitted to the dual-task training. RESULTS: Groups showed improvements in the variables of balance in different tasks, especially on static balance. Both groups showed the most notable changes in the variables related to gait. The BBS scores and the baropodometric variables showed that the experimental group could keep all values similar or better even one month after completion of training, unlike the control group. CONCLUSION: The dual-task performance had no additional value in relation to the improvement of balance in general, but we observed that the effectiveness of visual stimulation seems to occur in the maintenance of short-term balance variables.