Search results for " walking"

Walking in Natural Environments as Geriatrician’s Recommendation for Fall Prevention: Preliminary Outcomes from the “Passiata Day” Model

2020

Background: The Geriatric Unit of the University of Palermo developed the “Passiata Day” model, a green exercise intervention consisting of a one-hour walk, once/week, in a city park. The purpose of this study was to assess body balance in older people who walked regularly compared to sedentary people. Methods: 106 older people (75 women and 31 men; mean age: 72.3 ± 8.2 years) without fall history were invited to participate voluntarily in this natural environment walking program. After six months, both the participants who had taken part regularly in the walk (i.e., the physical activity group (PAG; n = 72; 54 women and 18 men; mean age: 70.7 ± 7.2 years)), and wh…

Associations Between Accelerometer-Based Free-Living Walking and Self-Reported Walking Capability Among Community-Dwelling Older People

2021

The authors examined whether accelerometer-based free-living walking differs between those reporting walking modifications or perceiving walking difficulty versus those with no difficulty. Community-dwelling 75-, 80-, or 85-year-old people (N = 479) wore accelerometers continuously for 3–7 days, and reported whether they perceived no difficulties, used walking modifications, or perceived difficulties walking 2 km. Daily walking minutes, walking bouts, walking bout intensity and duration, and activity fragmentation were calculated from accelerometer recordings, and cut points for increased risk for perceiving walking difficulties were calculated using receiver operating characteristic analys…

Knee extension strength and walking speed in relation to quadriceps muscle composition and training in elderly women.

1994

Summary. Knee extension strength, walking speed, quadriceps muscle mass and composition of the muscle compartment were studied in 66 to 85-year-old female athletes and controls. Maximal voluntary knee extension force, force/body mass, extension torque, torque/body mass and walking speed were higher for the athletes than the controls. A muscle index indicating intramuscular fat and connective tissue measured using ultrasonography was lower for the athletes than the controls. There were no differences between the study groups in knee extension force related either to cross-sectional area (CSA) or lean tissue area (CSAL) of the quadriceps. Within the subgroups, there was no significant correla…

Moderate-Load Muscular Endurance Strength Training Did Not Improve Peak Power or Functional Capacity in Older Men and Women

2017

The present study determined the effects of muscular endurance strength training on maximum strength and power, functional capacity, muscle activation and hypertrophy in older men and women. Eighty-one men and women acted as an intervention group while 22 acted as non-training controls (age range 64–75 y). Intervention training included super-sets (i.e., paired exercises, immediately performing the second exercises following completion of the first) with short rest intervals (30–60 s between sets) at an intensity of 50–60% one-repetition maximum (1-RM) for 15–20 repetitions. Concentric leg press actions measured maximum strength (1-RM) and concentric peak power. Functional capacity was asse…

Process evaluation of a complex workplace intervention to prevent musculoskeletal pain in nursing staff: results from INTEVAL_Spain

2021

Abstract Background INTEVAL_Spain was a complex workplace intervention to prevent and manage musculoskeletal pain among nursing staff. Process evaluations can be especially useful for complex and multifaceted interventions through identifying the success or failure factors of an intervention to improve the intervention implementation. Objectives This study performed a process evaluation of INTEVAL_Spain and aimed to examine whether the intervention was conducted according to the protocol, to investigate the fulfilment of expectations and the satisfaction of workers. Methods The intervention was a two-armed cluster randomized controlled trial and lasted 1 year. The process evaluation include…

2020

Abstract Background Stroke is a major cause of disability and stroke incidence increases with age. Stroke frequently results in permanent limitations of mobility, and, consequently, the need for the help of others in activities of daily living. In order to optimize rehabilitative efforts and their functional outcomes, detailed knowledge of the functional recovery process, regarding mobility, is needed. Objectives of the MOBITEC-Stroke study are: 1.) To characterize mobility, including lower extremity physical function (LEPF) and life space (the geospatial extent of all of a person’s movements), and changes in mobility within the first year after stroke. 2.) To identify and characterize subg…

A randomized controlled trial of rehabilitation after hospitalization in frail older women: effects on strength, balance and mobility

2002

When frail older people become acutely ill, they are at increased risk of further functional deterioration and rehabilitation is needed to restore functioning. The effects of an out-patient multicomponent training program including strength training after hospitalization were studied in a randomized controlled trial. Sixty-eight women (mean age 83.0 +/- 3.9 years) who were hospitalized due to an acute illness and were mobility impaired at admission were randomized into training (N = 34) and home exercise (N = 34) groups. Maximal voluntary isometric strength of knee extension and hip abduction, dynamic balance, and maximal walking speed were measured before and after the 10-week training per…

Effects of concurrent strength and endurance training in women with early or longstanding rheumatoid arthritis: Comparison with healthy subjects

2003

Objective To investigate the effects of a 21-week concurrent strength and endurance training protocol on physical fitness profile in women with early or longstanding rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with healthy subjects. Methods Twenty-three female patients with RA volunteered for the study. Twelve had early RA and eleven had longstanding RA. Twelve healthy women served as controls. Maximal strength of different muscle groups was measured by dynamometers, walking speed with light cells, and vertical squat jump on the force platform to mirror explosive force. Maximal oxygen uptake was measured by gas analyzer. Six training sessions (3 strength training and 3 endurance training) were carri…

Effects of Strength Training on Muscle Strength Characteristics, Functional Capabilities, and Balance in Middle-Aged and Older Women

2006

Progressive strength training can lead to substantial increases in maximal strength and mass of trained muscles, even in older women and men, but little information is available about the effects of strength training on functional capabilities and balance. Thus, the effects of 21 weeks of heavy resistance training--including lower loads performed with high movement velocities--twice a week on isometric maximal force (ISOmax) and force-time curve (force produced in 500 milliseconds, F0-500) and dynamic 1 repetition maximum (1RM) strength of the leg extensors, 10-m walking time (10WALK) and dynamic balance test (DYN.D) were investigated in 26 middle-aged (MI; 52.8 +/- 2.4 years) and 22 older …

Exploring Potential Benefits of Accumulated Multicomponent-Training in Non-Active Older Adults: From Physical Fitness to Mental Health

2021

The present study aimed to analyze the impact of a multicomponent training (MCT) program in a group of non-active older adults, comparing two different dose distributions. Twenty-four individuals, assigned to two groups, completed 15 weeks of MCT (2 days/week). The continuous group (CMCT