Effect of ecological walking training in sedentary elderly people: act on aging study

• Published in: The Gerontologist 2014-08, Vol.54 (4), p.611-623
• Main Authors: Magistro, Daniele, Liubicich, Monica Emma, Candela, Filippo, Ciairano, Silvia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aging; Aging - physiology; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Educational Programs; Elderly; Environmental Factors; Exercise Therapy - methods; Female; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Gerontology; Humans; Intervention; Male; Older people; Physical Endurance - physiology; Physical Fitness; Postural Balance; Sex; Training; Values; Walking
• ISSN: 0016-9013; 1758-5341
• DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnt039

This study aims to investigate the effects of a walking program on aerobic endurance and function in a sample of sedentary elderly people. For this study, 126 sedentary individuals were recruited: 63 individuals (mean age = 74.1±6.0 years) for the control group and 63 (mean age = 72.0±4.5 years) for the intervention group. The intervention consisted of walking training including balance exercises and lower limb strength activities twice a week for 4 months. We collected baseline and post-test measurements of aerobic endurance, lower limb strength, and mobility. We also measured aerobic endurance at increments of 4, 8, and 12 weeks between the baseline and the post-test. We used analyses of covariance with baseline value, gender, age, and body mass index scores as covariates (p < . 05) and calculated the effect size for the effects of the intervention. The changeover time of aerobic endurance was also analyzed with the repeated analysis of variance (p < .05). The intervention group showed steady and significant improvements with respect to the 6-min walk (aerobic endurance) from 447.89 m (SD 73.87) to 561.51 m (SD 83.96), as well as the 30-s chair stand (lower limb strength) from 10 (SD 3) to 13 (SD 3) number of times and the Timed Up and Go Test (mobility) from 8.53 s (SD 2.86) to 7.13 s (SD 1.76) at the post-test, whereas the control group showed significant decrease in all measurements. These results underline that an ecological walking training program can be used to improve physical functioning among sedentary elderly people.