Physical activity components associated with gait parameters in community-dwelling older adults


Author: Jaqueline Mello Porto1, Frederico Pieruccini-Faria2, Anne Caroline Lima Bandeira3, Julia Silveira Bôdo4, Daniela Cristina Carvalho de Abreu5

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: jmelloporto@hotmail.com.

<sup>2</sup> Research Associate, Gait & Brain Lab, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Parkwood Hospital, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.

<sup>3</sup> Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

<sup>4</sup> Physical Therapy Program, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

<sup>5</sup> Department of Health Sciences, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Conference/Journal: J Bodyw Mov Ther
Date published: 2024 Apr 1
Other:
 Volume ID: 38   ,  Pages: 67-72   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.11.064.   ,  Word Count: 161  
    Objective:

To investigate the association between components of physical activity and spatiotemporal gait parameters in community-dwelling older adults.



Methods:

Cross-sectional study with 134 independent community-dwelling older adults. A questionnaire was applied to obtain information related to the components of physical activity (frequency, duration, modality, and history of physical activity in the life course) and the GAITRite System was used to quantify gait parameters. Three MANOVA models adjusted for potential confounders were conducted to identify associations between components of physical activity (predictors) and gait performance (outcome).



Results:

Higher weekly frequency but not daily hours of physical activity and sports practice (tennis, boxing, football, volleyball, and tai chi) were significantly associated with better gait performance, specifically gait speed and stride length.



Conclusion:

Understanding the most effective components of physical activity to maintain functional capacity and independence in community-dwelling older adults, allowing for active aging, is essential for formulating more effective strategies.



Keywords: Active aging; Exercise; Functional capacity; Gait speed; Senescence.



PMID: 38763617 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.11.064