The effects of improved strength on obstacle negotiation in community-living older adults.

Lamoureux, E; Sparrow, WA; Murphy, A; Newton, RU

The effects of improved strength on obstacle negotiation in community-living older adults.

Lamoureux, E Sparrow, WA Murphy, A Newton, RU

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Gait Posture, 2003, 17 (3), pp. 273 - 283
Issue Date:: 2003-06

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Lamoureux, E	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Sparrow, WA	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Murphy, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Newton, RU	en_US
dc.date.issued	2003-06	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Gait Posture, 2003, 17 (3), pp. 273 - 283	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0966-6362	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/4431
dc.description.abstract	Poor mobility has been associated with age-related deterioration in muscle strength. While previous work has examined the effects of improved strength on level walking, we have quantified the effects of a resistance-training program on obstructed gait tasks using biomechanical-dependent measures. Forty-five community-dwelling participants aged 62 years or older were randomised to either a control (n=16) or experimental group (n=29). The experimental subjects exercised for 24 weeks on a progressive resistance-training program designed to improve lower body strength. Dynamic strength was assessed at weeks 0 and 24 as well as specific laboratory gait kinetics and kinematics during stepping over an obstacle and negotiation of a raised surface set at 10, 20 and 30% of each subject's leg length. Significant strength improvements (P<0.05), ranging between 197 and 285%, were recorded in the experimental group. The strength gains in the experimental group were accompanied by significant increases in obstacle-crossing stride velocity (range 5.5-15.5%) due to increases in stride length and decreases in stride duration for both gait tasks. Significant changes in the peak vertical and anterior-posterior ground reaction forces as well as in kinematic variables associated with a safe obstacle traverse such as vertical obstacle heel clearance, limb flexion at obstacle crossing, horizontal foot placement and vertical landing velocity resulted in an improved crossing strategy in the experimental subjects. These findings provide evidence of significant improvements in obstructed gait function of community-living older adults associated with a systematic resistance-training program.	en_US
dc.language	eng	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Gait Posture	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/s0966-6362(02)00101-7	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Orthopedics	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Leg	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Walking	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Age Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Exercise Tolerance	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Movement	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Locomotion	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Compressive Strength	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Physical Fitness	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Biomechanical Phenomena	en_US
dc.title	The effects of improved strength on obstacle negotiation in community-living older adults.	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	3	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	17	en_US
utslib.location.activity	England	en_US
utslib.for	110602 Exercise Physiology	en_US
utslib.for	110601 Biomechanics	en_US
utslib.for	1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	0913 Mechanical Engineering	en_US
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	3	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	17	en_US

Abstract:

Poor mobility has been associated with age-related deterioration in muscle strength. While previous work has examined the effects of improved strength on level walking, we have quantified the effects of a resistance-training program on obstructed gait tasks using biomechanical-dependent measures. Forty-five community-dwelling participants aged 62 years or older were randomised to either a control (n=16) or experimental group (n=29). The experimental subjects exercised for 24 weeks on a progressive resistance-training program designed to improve lower body strength. Dynamic strength was assessed at weeks 0 and 24 as well as specific laboratory gait kinetics and kinematics during stepping over an obstacle and negotiation of a raised surface set at 10, 20 and 30% of each subject's leg length. Significant strength improvements (P<0.05), ranging between 197 and 285%, were recorded in the experimental group. The strength gains in the experimental group were accompanied by significant increases in obstacle-crossing stride velocity (range 5.5-15.5%) due to increases in stride length and decreases in stride duration for both gait tasks. Significant changes in the peak vertical and anterior-posterior ground reaction forces as well as in kinematic variables associated with a safe obstacle traverse such as vertical obstacle heel clearance, limb flexion at obstacle crossing, horizontal foot placement and vertical landing velocity resulted in an improved crossing strategy in the experimental subjects. These findings provide evidence of significant improvements in obstructed gait function of community-living older adults associated with a systematic resistance-training program.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/4431