Efeito da caminhada prolongada sobre a cinemática da marcha de idosos ativos e sedentários

Abstract

With the increase in life expectancy and the number of elderly in the world, interest in strategies to improve the quality of life of population is growing and involves reduction in risk of falls. Most of activities aiming at fall prevention in the elderly are performed in conditions that in fact may increase risk of falls. One of the most discussed and recommended interventions to reduce risk of fall is the physical exercise. Walking is the preferred exercise among elderly aiming at improving quality of life, in sessions usually lasting at least 30 minutes. Long-term exercise reduces gait variability, which contributes to reduce fall risk in the elderly. However, prolonged exercise may lead elderly to fatigue and tiredness conditions, which may increase gait variability, and therefore risk of fall. But does a single session of prolonged exercise lead to acute increases in gait variability increasing risk of falling? Could any acute effect of exercise differ sedentary and physically active elderly? The aim of this study is to determine the effect of the physical activity level of the elderly on the gait kinematics during a 30 min treadmill walking. To answer these questions, sedentary (n=15) and physically active community dwelling elderly (n=15) were assessed. Bilateral stride and step length, stride and step cadence, step width and its respective variabilities were compared between the groups considering kinematics data from both the legs at three distinct moments of the 30 min walking session, performed at preferred gait speed. We found larger step and stride length in the active elderly, and similar variability in the groups. Asymmetries were not observed. In conclusion, despite of differences in the kinematics of sedentary and physically active elderly, 30 minutes of walking at preferred gait speed seemed to not increase risk of falling as depicted by variability in the step and stride kinematics. Keywords: treadmill walking; gait asymmetry; fatigue; fall