ABSTRACT
Abstract. Owing to advancement of medical technology and current knowledge, the population has a longer life expectancy, leading to an increase in the proportion of elderly. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the effect of action observation (AO) combined with gait training on gait and cognition in elderly with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: Thirty-three participants were randomly allocated to action observation with gait training (AOGT), gait training (GT), and control (CT) groups. The AOGT and GT groups received a program of observation and gait training protocol with the same total duration of 65 min for 12 sessions. For the observation, the AGOT group watched a video of normal gait movement, while the GT group watched an abstract picture and the CT group received no training program. All participants were assessed for gait parameters during single- and dual-tasks using an electronic gait mat system and were assessed for cognitive level using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) at baseline, after training and at 1-month follow-up. Results: The results showed that the AOGT group had significant improvements in gait speeds during single- and dual-tasks, as well as better MoCA score, while the GT group had significant improvement only in gait speed. Conclusion: The adjunct treatment of AO with gait training provides greater benefits for both gait and cognitive performances in elderly with MCI.
Resumo. Com o avanço da tecnologia médica e do conhecimento atual, a população tem uma expectativa de vida mais longa, levando a um aumento na proporção de idosos. Objetivo: O estudo teve como objetivo investigar o efeito da observação de ação (AO) combinada com o treinamento da marcha na marcha e cognição em idosos com comprometimento cognitivo leve (CCL). Métodos: Trinta e três participantes foram alocados aleatoriamente para observação de ação com grupos de treinamento de marcha (AOGT), treinamento de marcha (GT) e controle (CT). Os grupos AOGT e GT receberam um programa de observação e protocolo de treinamento de marcha com a mesma duração total de 65 minutos por 12 sessões. Na observação, o grupo AGOT assistiu a um vídeo de movimento normal da marcha, enquanto o grupo GT assistiu a uma figura abstrata e o grupo CT não recebeu nenhum programa de treinamento. Todos os participantes foram avaliados quanto aos parâmetros da marcha durante tarefas simples e duplas, utilizando um sistema eletrônico de esteira da marcha e avaliados quanto ao nível cognitivo, utilizando a Avaliação Cognitiva de Montreal (MoCA) na linha de base, após o treinamento e 1 mês de acompanhamento. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que o grupo AOGT apresentou melhorias significativas nas velocidades da marcha durante tarefas simples e duplas, além do escore MoCA, enquanto o grupo GT teve melhora significativa apenas na velocidade da marcha. Conclusão: O tratamento adjunto da AO com o treinamento da marcha proporciona maiores benefícios tanto do desempenho da marcha quanto do desempenho cognitivo em idosos com CCL.
Subject(s)
Humans , Gait , Signs and Symptoms , Cognition , Cognitive DysfunctionABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate obstacle crossing characteristics in the young and the elderly subjects. Methods: Twenty young and 20 elderly subjects were investigated for their obstacle crossing characteristics by using a 3D motion analysis system. Markers were placed on the bony prominences of the feet and obstacles. Obstacle crossing characteristics were determined with the obstacle crossing time, the vertical distance between toe and obstacle, and the maximum vertical toe clearance. The main effects and interaction effect of age (young and elderly) and limb [leading limb (LL) and trailing limb (TL)] were examined by two way analysis of variance. The obstacle crossing characteristics were also compared in each condition by using Independent sample t-test and Paired t-test. Results: There were main effects of the age and the limb on the obstacle crossing time. No interaction effect of the age and limb was found in any variables. In each condition of age and limb, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the obstacle crossing time between the limbs in both the young and the elderly. Furthermore, the vertical distance between toe and obstacle between the LL and TL was found to be significantly different (p<0.05) in the young, but not in the elderly (p>0.05). Conclusion: Age and limb were found to be the factors which related to the obstacle crossing time characteristic. The present findings suggested that the TL’s clearance is critical and should pay more consideration for the elderly.