Physical Activity Effects in Elderly Female: Evaluation through Six-minute Walking Test

Transcription

1 Sport Science Review, vol. XX, No. 5-6, December 2011 DOI: /v z Physical Activity Effects in Elderly Female: Evaluation through Six-minute Walking Test Matteo MERATI* Alice BERETTA** Luca EID*** Francesco CASOLO* Nicola LOVECCHIO* S tudy aim. Aerobic capacity is very important for elderly. Daily living activities, such as walking, doing housework and shopping, require a good strength, but also a good aerobic endurance. The aim of this study was to verify the effects of regular training activity on a typical daily action, such as deambulation. Material and methods. Twenty-six volunteer elderly women randomly divided into two groups, group II (age = 64,5 ± 3,58 years, weight = 61, ± 4,25 kg, height = 1,62 ± 0,04 m; BMI = 23, ± 1,79 kg m-2), group I (age =,21 ± 4,59 years, weight = 63,36 ± 7,59 kg, height = 1,62 ± 0,06 m; BMI = 24,1 ± 1,98 kg m-2) participated in this study. Groups performed endurance training for eight weeks (2 days per week, 1 hour each, for experimental group II; 1 day per week, 1 hour each, for experimental group I). Exercises involved in many possibilities of physical expression to keeping all body in motion for at least 30 min. During the second 30 min exercises for abdominal and lower limb muscles were proposed. The physical efficacy was tested through 6 min walking test. Results. After the training all people increased the distance in the test. Group II participants significantly improved their distance (pre-training = m, post-training = 3.75 m). Group I reported also improvements (pre = 5.21 m; post = 600 m), but with a minor level of significance. Conclusions. Specific regular physical activity provides significant benefits adopting two sessions per week but it is also important do not underestimate the possibility, where people can not, of a one training session per week. Regular and adequate levels of physical activity allow improving daily living activity helping the elderly to keep their autonomy as long as possible. Keywords: elderly, training, gait Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy ** private practice *** ANSAS, (Italian National School Agency), Ministry of Education, University and Research, Toscana Office, Italy * 95

2 Physical Activity Effects in Elderly Female Introduction Modifications caused by ageing may reduce the autonomy and skills in all people. Aerobic physical activity is very important to prevent many diseases, not only about the cardiovascular system (Krolner, Toft, Nielsen, & Tondevold, 1983). Indeed, endurance training plays a crucial role for aerobic efficiency, cardiovascular adaptation, strength of many muscular groups with positive effects to improve daily activities and to contrast negative events (Buchner D.M, 2009; Ettinger, Burns, Messier, Applegate, Rejeski, Morgan, Shumaker, Berry, O Toole, Monu, & Craven, 1997; Hollmann, Strüder, Tagarakis, & King, 2007; Seals, Hagberg, Hurley, Ehsani, & Holloszy, 1984; Malbut, Dinan, & Young, 2002). The aim of this study was to verify if short aerobic training program (eight week) could improve the aerobic efficacy. The improvements were verify by using the Six Minutes Walking test (6MW, Rikli & Jones, 2007). This test was used for its simplicity and quickness to use, reproducibility and for its real congruency to metabolic request of daily activity (Federmann M, 1999). Materials and Methods Participants. In this study 26 women aged between and 73 years were tested. All were in good conditions like attested by a medical certificate. Weight and height were detected and BMI was calculated. Therefore, participants were randomly divided in two samples (table 1). Thus, the two groups followed two different physical activity protocols. In particular, 12 women (A1-A12) followed a 2 day x week course while the other (14 subjects) spend a course with only one session x week (B1-B14). All women were fully informed about the nature and possible risks of the study. Written informed consent was obtained from each participants prior to participate to the protocol. Procedures. At the begin of protocol women were tested for the first time. The 6MW test was performed by all women along a indoor path (30m long) wearing comfortable clothes. Participants has been invited to walk as faster as possible. Every 90 seconds the trainer-in-chief whistled and the meters walked were stored by 12 assistant. In this way the mean speed every 90 seconds were calculated to check the walking trend. At the end the total distance were collected. 96

3 Sport Science Review, vol. XX, No. 5-6, December 2011 Table 1. Anthropometric data. Group A: 2 session x week; Group F: 1 session x week. Subject A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 A10 A11 A12 mean sd Age ,75 1,71 Weight ,58 5,66 Height 1,72 1,63 1,62 1,61 1,58 1,58 1,50 1, 1,59 1,61 0,05 BMI 19,94 22,21 22,10 25,08 28,13 22,03 28,44 25,00 26,95 29,78 24,24 22,94 24,74 3,06 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 F13 F14 mean sd ,36 2, , 9,49 1,55 1,58 1,69 1,58 1,70 1,73 1,57 1, 1, 1,58 1,62 0,05 25,39 25,44 19,92 26,26 26,04 20,70 25,95 28,07 21,10 23,88 26,95 24,98 25,39 29,24 24,95 2,72 97

4 Physical Activity Effects in Elderly Female The second phase concerned in a eight weeks long endurance training. The group A followed 2 sessions per week while the group F performed 1 session per week. Sessions were 60 minutes long. Below a general sessions scheduling: Phase I - 10 min of warm-up exercises (all body muscles) Phase II - 30 min of aerobic activities Phase III - 15 min of strength exercise for legs, arms and abdominal muscles Phase IV - 5 min of stretching and/or relaxing exercises During Phase II the walking exercise were performed in circular or shuttle way, on the rows or with a free formation. The walk was ahead, lateral or backward; some sessions required paths with cones, circles, benches, low and high canvas. This way involved all the possibilities of expression maintaining the body in motion for 30 minutes. Phase III included strength exercises for lower and upper limbs performed in standing position and using small tools, like balls with different measures, circles, bands, light external load. All session were conduct by the same instructor in the same gym at the best conditions: floor not slippery, adequate lighting, constant level of temperature and humidity. The increase of the intensity of the aerobic exercise was done according with the feedbacks received from participants. Exercises were various to make pleasant sessions. After eight weeks, in which the participants always attended to the activities without absences, the 6MW test has been repeated. The same operator had run all phases of the test after an environmental conditions check. Data analysis. Descriptive analysis (mean and standard deviation) was calculated before and after training. Inferential statistics were determined using Student s test. The level of significance was set at 5%. 98

5 Sport Science Review, vol. XX, No. 5-6, December 2011 Results All participants were ritired and divided in two homogeneous groups (table 1). Their were aged between and 72 years and 14 of them were overweight and two very close to obesity. Table 2 shown data performed before and after the eight-week-training protocol respectively for Group A and F. In particular, meters covered every 90 sec are reported. Both groups performed the same trend during the six min. Indeed, the highest speed was recorded during the first step, decreasing during the second and reaching a plateau during the third and the fourth step (at least in pretraining test). The performances were comprised between 525 and 5 m. (on average 622 m.; speed = 1,7 m/sec) while at the end of protocol the worst score was 555 and the best 720m. Group A performed a better test than group F (significant differences). Indeed, during the pre training test Group A walked, on average, 156 m in every step while the group F only 140 m. The second half of test was more regular (from a speed point of view) for all women. After the eight-week-training program all participants improved their own score (except A8, A11, F9 and F11). The best improvement was obtained by F13 while the worst by F12. On average, the group A walked 37,5 m more than them-self pre-training while group F about 32. Both group revealed important improvements considering the pre and post training test (p=0,0026 and p=0,00031 for group A and F respectively). Indeed, group A reach about 4m while one-session x week women 600 m. Otherwise, the variability within group increased for group A (in particular in second half part of test) and decreased for F. 99

6 Physical Activity Effects in Elderly Female Table 2. Results performed pre and post training program. Subjects A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 A10 A11 A12 mean sd Before training meters 90 sec sec 270 sec 360 sec ,83 313,33 474,58 636,25 10,84 11,74 24,63 28,85 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 F13 F14 mean sd ,43 9, ,71 25, ,64 27, ,21 39,06 90 sec ,92 12,33 After training meters sec 270 sec ,58 503,33 21,26 38, sec ,75 41, ,00 10, ,36 17, ,00 37, ,86 27,15 100

7 Sport Science Review, vol. XX, No. 5-6, December 2011 Some participants of group A had some peak of speed during the second last step (A4 and A12), symptom of incapacity to pace oneself. Participants of group F had no peak of speed even if the irregular trend were evident. Observing the average speed after eight-weeks-training (fig. 1) was evident a first phase fastest in both group while the other followed different trend. In particular F group decreased along time. Figure 1. Speed during four 90 sec phases Discussion The modern society leads retired people toward sedentary style of life. The habits change and the laziness often becomes the major limiting factor. The consequence are important: decreasing in cardio-circulation function, ventilation, sarcopenia and increasing in percentage of fat mass (Baker, Horton, & Weir, 2010). The aim of this study was verify the improvements on endurance efficacy after eight weeks of a regular activity. At the end of the training period the participants of the group with double frequency per week had good improvements (p=0.02). The group attending the course one session per week had, also, significatively improvements (p=0.04). Thus, we can say that a specific and regular indoor activity could provide benefits 101

8 Physical Activity Effects in Elderly Female in both situation even if the group with the highest frequency of training was able to maintain a constant speed until the end of the test. This positive trend seems imputable to the specific work performed during the course: activities to increase the aerobic endurance and exercises to improve coordination and strength of lower limbs, that permit to reduce the time of double contact, improving walking speed and cadence (Cavagna G.A. et al., 2008). Indeed, some study demonstrates that an aerobic activity accompanied with the strengthening of lower limbs, buttocks and abdominal muscles, as well as coordination and balance exercises support performances and increase the distance covered in the same time (Monod & Sautebin, 2009). Conclusions Regular activity allows the elderly to obtain the improvements necessary to manage in a efficiently way their daily living activity, spending less energies and maintaining as long as possible autonomy above all after the active work period. The crucial role of motion science expert is the promotion of good life style and improve the time dedicated to moderate physical activity. Like suggest by WHO (2003) 30 minute of moderate activity (gardening, washing car, jogging, houseworking ) are essential to preserve a good health (also for mental function). Often, chaotic urban area or poor rural village could not offer good solutions for physical activity in retired age but the present results show that even one hour per week could produce positive effects (at least for walking endurance). Thus, encourage daily activity (whatever) could be the golden solution for long aging. References Baker, J., Horton, S., & Weir, P. (2010).The masters athlete : understanding the role of sport and exercise in optimizing aging. London, New York : Routledge. Buchner, D. M. (2009). Physical activity and prevention of cardiovascular disease in older adults. Clinical Geriatric Medicine, 25(4): Cavagna, G.A., Legramandi, M.A., & Peyre -Tartaruga, L. A. (2008). The landingtakeoff asymmetry of human running is enhanced in old age. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 211,

9 Sport Science Review, vol. XX, No. 5-6, December 2011 Ettinger, W.H.jr, Burns, R., Messier, S.P., Applegate, W., Rejeski, W.J., Morgan, T., Shumaker, S., Berry, M.J., O Toole, M., Monu, J., & Craven, T. (1997). A randomized trial comparing aerobic exercise and resistance exercise with a health education program in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. JAMA, 277, Hollmann, W., Strüder, H.K., Tagarakis, C.V., & King, G. (2007). Physical activity and the elderly. European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, 14(6), Malbut K.E., Dinan, S., & Young, A. (2002). Aerobic training in the oldest old : the effects of 24 weeks of training. Age and Ageing, 31, Monod, S., & Sautebin, A. (2009). Aging and becoming vulnerable. Revue médicale Suisse, 18(5), Krolner, B., Toft, B., Nielsen, S.P. & Tondevold E. (1983). Physical exercise as prophylaxis against involutional vertebral bone loss: a controlled trial. Clinical Science, 64, Rikli, R., & Jones, C. J. (2007). Senior fitness test kit. Updated edition. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Seals, D.R., Hagberg, J.M., Hurley, B.F., Ehsani, A.A., & Holloszy J.O. (1984). Effects of endurance training on glucose tolerance and plasma lipid levels in older men and women. JAMA, 252, World Health Organization. (2003). Gender, Health and Aging. Active Ageing concepts and approaches. Geneve. Matteo MERATI has received BSc in Physical Education in 1989 (University of Study, Milano) and her MSc Mottion Science in Dijon (France). He is a physical education teacher and assistant at the University Cattolica of the Sacred Heart (Milano), national technical FISO and, since 1999, entered on the national reporters. Alice BERETTA has received her BSc in Motor Science in 2008 and her MSc in Adapted Physical Activity (APA), cum laude, in She is now a personal trainer and she works in many projects involving students and elderly in schools and associations. Luca EID has received his Ph.D. in Sport Science (Digione, France). He has collaborated for almost 20 years with the University of Study in Milano, Italy, teaching the Theory, 103

10 Physical Activity Effects in Elderly Female methodology and didactics in Physical Education and was also a professor at the Catholic University of Holy Heart, teaching Methodology and didactics for older. He currently works for the Agenzia Nazionale per lo Sviluppo dell Autonomia Scolastica Nucleo Territoriale Toscana as a researcher. Luca is also the Italian reference within EUPEA (European Physical Education Association). Francesco CASOLO has received degree in Pedagogy and in Motor Science. Since he is Professor at the Faculty of Science of Education for Theory and Methods of Human Movement and Theory and Technique and Teaching of Motor Activities for the Growing Age. In Catholic University of Sacred Heart he is also Coordinator of the Motor and Sport Science. He wrote monographs and articles in scientific magazines about didactics and methodology of the motor and sport activities in the growing ages. Nicola LOVECCHIO, Ph.D, personal trainer and assistant in Methodology and didactics in human movement at the Catholic University of Sacred Heart in Milano, Italy. Nicola has collaborated with University of Study in Milano for Human Anatomy lesson Has authored and co-authored over 35 scientific articles and 50 abstracts during international conferences. He is a Physical terapist and a personal trainer. address: Nicola. Lovecchio@unicatt.it 104