ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term and long-term effects of a moderate intensity nordic walking program, and the feasibility of this exercise form among Hungarian community-living older adults. METHODS: Forty one community-living older adults aged over 60 years (mean 67.5, SD 4.8 years) participated in a nordic walking program consisting of a 10-week supervised period and a 25-week unsupervised period. The age and gender matched control group did not receive any types of exercise programs. The balance, functional mobility, lower limb strength, and aerobic endurance were measured at baseline, after 10 weeks and after 25 weeks. RESULTS: The balance, the functional mobility and the aerobic endurance significantly improved in the nordic walking group (P=0.001; P=0.04; P<0.0001, respectively), whereas there were significant deteriorations in the control group. In terms of lower limb muscle strenght (including iliopsoas, quadriceps, gluteus muscles, and hamstring muscles) we could not demonstrate improvement (P=0.274). CONCLUSION: This study showed that nordic walking is a simple, well-tolerated and effective physical activity for older people in Hungary. Based on the findings of our studies, the nordic walking will play an important role in geriatric physiotherapy in order to improve or maintain the functional abilities of this growing population.
Subject(s)
Muscle Strength/physiology , Physical Endurance/physiology , Postural Balance/physiology , Walking/physiology , Aged , Case-Control Studies , Feasibility Studies , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Independent Living , Leg/physiology , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Muscle, Skeletal/physiology , Physical Fitness/physiology , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Exercise programs have important role in prevention of falls, but to date, there are conflicting findings about the effects of exercise programs on balance, functional performance and fall risk among cognitively impaired older adults. AIM. To investigate the effects of a multimodal exercise program on static and dynamic balance, and risk of falls in older adults with mild or moderate cognitive impairment. DESIGN: A randomized controlled study. SETTING: A long-term care institute. POPULATION: Cognitively impaired individuals aged over 60 years. METHODS: Eighty-six participants were randomized to an exercise group providing multimodal exercise program for 12 months or a control group which did not participate in any exercise program. The Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment scale, Timed Up and Go test, and incidence of falls were measured at baseline, at 6 months and at 12 months. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in balance-related items of Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment scale in the exercise group both at 6 month and 12 month (P<0.0001, P=0.002; respectively). There was no statistically significant increase in gait-related items of Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment scale after the first 6-month treatment period (P=0.210), but in the second 6-month treatment period the POMA-G score improved significantly (P=0.001). There was no significant difference between groups regarding falls. CONCLUSION: Our results confirmed that a 12-month multimodal exercise program can improve the balance in cognitively impaired older adults. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Based on our results, the multimodal exercise program may be a promising fall prevention exercise program for older adults with mild or moderate cognitive impairment improving static balance but it is supposed that more emphasis should be put on walking component of exercise program and environmental fall risk assessment.
