Biomecânica da marcha com obstáculos e dupla tarefa em idosas sedentárias e fisicamente ativas

Abstract

Aging is associated with several changes in human body functions and structures. Neuromuscular, mechanical and cognitive deficits may increase difficulties in locomotion, especially under challenging situations as the gait over obstacles. Such effects can be enforced during situations of dual-task. Limitations for mobility, strength asymmetries and decreased ability of response for changes in the context can affect the gait and increase risks for falling in the elderly. Although physical exercise benefits general health condition, its influence on performance of perturbed gait has been briefly addressed. While the usual gait can be benefited by regular physical exercise, questions still open on how regular exercise contributes to the performance of perturbed gait combined or not with a dual-task, which bring additional cognitive loading to the elderly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biomechanics of gait crossing a obstacle while performing or not a dual-task in sedentary and physically active elderly. Elderly aged 60 years old or more participated in the study. They were classified as sedentary or physically active. A brief interview was performed, followed by examination of cognitive status, leg preference and gait kinematics under three conditions: during the usual overground gait, overground gait crossing an obstacle and during overground gait crossing an obstacle while performing a dual-task. Results suggest that some kinematic variables of aged gait are improved in the physical active elderly, even with the execution of a dual-task. Physically active elderly seemed to adopt a more secure pattern of locomotion while crossing over an obstacle, despite of gait asymmetries observed for both the groups.