PURPOSE: There is a need to identify effective interventions to promote walking capacity in seniors. This study compares nordic walking (NW) and usual overground walking (OW) and estimates the relative efficacy in improving walking capacity (endurance and gait speed) of the elderly. METHOD: Single blind, site-stratified, randomized, pilot trial designed to estimate the amount of change with NW and OW. Main outcomes were distance walked measured by 6-min walk test (6MWT) and comfortable gait speed measured by 5-meter walk test (5MWT). Explanatory variables were age, sex, number of comorbidities, walking aids, balance, pain, and leg function. RESULTS: NW and OW participants improved, respectively, 45 and 41 m on 6MWT and increased their gait speed by 0.14 and 0.07 m/s, respectively. NW effect sizes were moderate for 6MWT (ES = 0.53) and large for gait speed (effect size (ES) = 0.68). OW demonstrated moderate effect size for 6MWT (ES = 0.53) but a small one for gait speed (ES = 0.33). Relative efficacy, which was obtained from the ratio of NW and OW effects' sizes, was 1 for 6MWT and 2.06 for gait speed. CONCLUSIONS: NW is 106% more effective in improving gait speed among elderly than OW.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: There is a need to identify effective interventions to promote walking capacity in seniors. This study compares nordic walking (NW) and usual overground walking (OW) and estimates the relative efficacy in improving walking capacity (endurance and gait speed) of the elderly. METHOD: Single blind, site-stratified, randomized, pilot trial designed to estimate the amount of change with NW and OW. Main outcomes were distance walked measured by 6-min walk test (6MWT) and comfortable gait speed measured by 5-meter walk test (5MWT). Explanatory variables were age, sex, number of comorbidities, walking aids, balance, pain, and leg function. RESULTS: NW and OW participants improved, respectively, 45 and 41 m on 6MWT and increased their gait speed by 0.14 and 0.07 m/s, respectively. NW effect sizes were moderate for 6MWT (ES = 0.53) and large for gait speed (effect size (ES) = 0.68). OW demonstrated moderate effect size for 6MWT (ES = 0.53) but a small one for gait speed (ES = 0.33). Relative efficacy, which was obtained from the ratio of NW and OW effects' sizes, was 1 for 6MWT and 2.06 for gait speed. CONCLUSIONS: NW is 106% more effective in improving gait speed among elderly than OW.
Authors: David B Allison; Michelle S Williams; Gregory A Hand; John M Jakicic; Kevin R Fontaine Journal: Disabil Rehabil Date: 2015-01-19 Impact factor: 3.033
Authors: Ruth Barclay; Sandra Webber; Jacquie Ripat; Theresa Grant; C Allyson Jones; Lisa M Lix; Nancy Mayo; Cornelia van Ineveld; Nancy M Salbach Journal: Pilot Feasibility Stud Date: 2018-11-29
Authors: Nancy M Salbach; Ruth Barclay; Sandra C Webber; C A Jones; Nancy E Mayo; Lisa M Lix; Jacquie Ripat; Theresa Grant; Cornelia van Ineveld; Philip D Chilibeck Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-04-20 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Zbigniew Marcin Ossowski; Wojciech Skrobot; Piotr Aschenbrenner; Vida Janina Cesnaitiene; Mirosław Smaruj Journal: Clin Interv Aging Date: 2016-11-30 Impact factor: 4.458