Gait Range Of Motion In Older Adults After A Six-week Walking Intervention With Gait Trainers.

It is known that worldwide populations are aging, and also that physical activity can play an important role in minimizing impairments characteristic of old age. Adopting a more active lifestyle and doing regular physical activity, including aerobic and resistance exercises, daily walking etc. have been demonstrated to improve cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal parameters in older adults. We assessed a potential participant from Elbasan (Albania), 67 years, for eligibility to participate in a 5 month training program. The subject gave written informed consent before inclusion.The following parameters were measured at the beginning (baseline) and end of the training period: BMI, body fat percentage, hand grip strength, lower/upper limb and trunk flexibility and range of motion, heart rate, balance, pain intensity, as well as VO2 max, directly and/or an estimate using the Rockport fitness test estimate. An initial evaluation was carried out just before starting the training (baseline). A second evaluation was made 5 months after starting the program of physical exercise (post training). Each evaluation included the recording of health related events, such as any changes in previous symptoms, as well as measurements of balance, flexibility, body composition, coordination, muscle strength, and aerobic capacity, to detect any changes that might have been induced specifically by physical activity. The subject’s attendance and participation in the program was also recorded. Range of motion for each part evaluated (trunk, hip, cervical region and shoulder) is improved about 15-20° degree. BMI, hand grip strength, lower/upper limb and trunk flexibility, heart rate, balance, pain intensity, VO2 max are also improved after training program. Following a training program or a regular physical activity in older adults minimise impairments characteristics in this age and cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal parameters. According to the low importance shown in my country for the physical activity in older adults, I want to emphasize the importance of state structures involvement and the sensibilization of this group of age to stimulate an actively participation in physical training programs followed by professionals for bests life parameters. A higher investment for this age group, building as many facilities as possible for activation and spending quality free time, hiring more physiotherapists in nursing homes will increase life motivation and improve the quality and the parameters of living.

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Reliability of Bi-Axial Ankle Stiffness Measurement in Older Adults

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21041162 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 1162

Author(s):

Hogene Kim ◽

Sangwoo Cho ◽

Hwiyoung Lee

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Range Of Motion ◽

Angular Displacement ◽

Plantar Flexion ◽

Significant Negative Correlation ◽

Talocrural Joint ◽

Ankle Foot Orthosis ◽

Ankle Stiffness ◽

Ankle Movement ◽

Test Retest Reliability

This study involves measurements of bi-axial ankle stiffness in older adults, where the ankle joint is passively moved along the talocrural and subtalar joints using a custom ankle movement trainer. A total of 15 elderly individuals participated in test–retest reliability measurements of bi-axial ankle stiffness at exactly one-week intervals for validation of the angular displacement in the device. The ankle’s range of motion was also compared, along with its stiffness. The kinematic measurements significantly corresponded to results from a marker-based motion capture system (dorsi-/plantar flexion: r = 0.996; inversion/eversion: r = 0.985). Bi-axial ankle stiffness measurements showed significant intra-class correlations (ICCs) between the two visits for all ankle movements at slower (2.14°/s, ICC = 0.712) and faster (9.77°/s, ICC = 0.879) speeds. Stiffness measurements along the talocrural joint were thus shown to have significant negative correlation with active ankle range of motion (r = −0.631, p = 0.012). The ankle movement trainer, based on anatomical characteristics, was thus used to demonstrate valid and reliable bi-axial ankle stiffness measurements for movements along the talocrural and subtalar joint axes. Reliable measurements of ankle stiffness may help clinicians and researchers when designing and fabricating ankle-foot orthosis for people with upper-motor neuron disorders, such as stroke.

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Talus mobilization-based manual therapy is effective for restoring range of motion and enhancing balance in older adults with limited ankle mobility: A randomized controlled trial.

Gait & Posture ◽

10.1016/j.gaitpost.2022.01.005 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

David Hernández-Guillén ◽

Sergio Roig-Casasús ◽

Catalina Tolsada-Velasco ◽

PT Carmen García-Gomáriz ◽

José-María Blasco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Range Of Motion ◽

Manual Therapy ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Ankle Mobility

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Volunteer Motivation and Retention of Older Peer Walk Leaders: A 4-Month Long Investigation

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnaa159 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Marlene Kritz ◽

Nikos Ntoumanis ◽

Barbara Mullan ◽

Afroditi Stathi ◽

Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Personal Characteristics ◽

Program Completion ◽

Need Satisfaction ◽

Volunteer Motivation ◽

Psychological Need ◽

Walking Intervention ◽

Peer Volunteers ◽

Volunteer Motives ◽

Psychological Need Satisfaction

Abstract Background and Objectives Peer volunteers offer a promising avenue for promoting physical activity in older adults. However, recruiting and retaining such volunteers are challenging. We aimed to examine longitudinally factors that determine whether older volunteer walk leaders will persist in their role. Research Design and Methods We recruited older adults volunteering as walk leaders, from retirement villages in Perth, at the start of a 16-week walking intervention. Using a mixed-methods multiple case study design, informed by self-determination theory, we examined the motivational processes of three profiles: Dropouts, Completers, and Extenders. One male and 10 female (medianAge = 75 years, age range: 66–83 years) peer walk leaders were interviewed twice over 4 months, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Questionnaires provided information on volunteer characteristics, leadership confidence, and volunteer motivation. Results Self-orientated goals, obligation and guilt, emotional exhaustion, lack of psychological need satisfaction, and perceived lack of support were barriers to volunteer persistence. Social confidence and relatedness satisfaction motivated volunteers to persist until program completion (Completers). Altruistic goals, using sustainable helping strategies, psychological need satisfaction, optimism, and enjoyment were important for continuing the role after the program (Extenders). Discussion and Implications Results describe how differences in volunteer motives, personal characteristics, and training may affect motivational processes that determine persistence as an older peer walk leader. We provide suggestions on selecting, training, and supporting older volunteer walk leaders to facilitate their retention.

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A Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing the Evolution of the Weight-Bearing Ankle Dorsiflexion Range of Motion Over 6 Sessions of Talus Mobilizations in Older Adults

Physical Therapy ◽

10.1093/ptj/pzaa003 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 100 (4) ◽

pp. 645-652

Author(s):

David Hernández-Guillén ◽

José-María Blasco

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Range Of Motion ◽

Weight Bearing ◽

Ankle Dorsiflexion ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Ankle Mobility ◽

Healthy Community ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Background Ankle range of motion declines with age, affecting mobility and postural control. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a talus mobilization-based intervention among healthy community-dwelling older adults presenting with limited weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and determine how ankle mobility evolved over the treatment. Design This was a randomized clinical trial. Setting This study was conducted in an outpatient clinic. Participants Community-dwelling, older adults over 60 years of age who had limited ankle mobility participated in this study. Interventions The experimental intervention consisted of 6 sessions of manual therapy applied in the ankle joint. The control group received the same volume of sham treatment. Measurements The primary outcome was the weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion range of motion as measured using the lunge test. Data were collected at 9 time points: baseline, after each session, and follow-up. Results A total of 36 participants were analyzed. A single session of mobilization increased ankle range of motion by 8 degrees (95% confidence interval = 6 to 11). At the end of the sixth session, this effect had increased slightly to 11 degrees (95% confidence interval = 9 to 13). Significant between-group differences were found throughout the intervention. Limitations Optimal dose and effects from follow-up evaluations for treatment volumes of fewer than 6 sessions remain unknown. Conclusions Six sessions of a talus mobilization-based intervention in healthy community-dwelling older adults found that the greatest mobility gain in terms of the weight-bearing ankle dorsiflexion range of motion is produced after the first session. Additional sessions produce smaller improvements with a slight upward trend. Importantly, the restoration of joint mobility is enhanced over time after the end of the intervention.

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