Does physical exercise improve obstacle negotiation in the elderly? A systematic review.

Autor: Guadagnin EC; Exercise Research Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil., da Rocha ES; Applied Neuromechanics Research Group, Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil., Duysens J; Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium., Carpes FP; Applied Neuromechanics Research Group, Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: carpes@unipampa.edu.br.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics [Arch Gerontol Geriatr] 2016 May-Jun; Vol. 64, pp. 138-45. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Feb 11.
DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2016.02.008
Abstrakt: Background: Physical exercise improves walking in the elderly but much less is known about its effect on more challenged gait, such as obstacle negotiation. We conducted a systematic review to discuss the effects of regular physical exercise on kinematics and kinetics of obstacle negotiation in the elderly.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search revealed 859 citations for review, whereof 206 studies entered the full-text analysis. After application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 13 studies were included in this systematic review.
Findings: Most of them presented a reasonable quality (average 0.68) but none of them reached the level of a randomized control trial. Interventions were heterogeneous, with training periods lasting from 5 days to 10 months. Studies assessed obstacle negotiation basically considering 3 types of testing paradigm, namely a walkway with either a single obstacle crossing, or with multiple obstacles, or else a treadmill with an obstacle avoidance task under time pressure.
Interpretation: In general, longer training programs had better results and very short ones were not effective. A weekly frequency of 2-3 times was the most common among the studies showing positive effects. Regardless of exercises types performed, most of them were effective and so far, there is no consensus about the best exercise for improving obstacle negotiation. A lack of studies on this topic still is evident. Including a record of fall score can further help in deciding which programs are to be preferred.
(Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: