Abstract
Abstract This study investigated the effects of a multimodal exercise program (MEP) on pedal dexterity and balance in two groups of older adult participants (65–92 years of age) from a psychiatric hospital center (HC), a residential care home (RCH), and a daily living center (DLC). The experimental group (EG) trained three times per week for 12 months, and the control group (CG) maintained their normal activities. The Mini-Mental State Examination and the Modified Baecke Questionnaire, as well as the Pedal Dexterity and the Tinetti tests, were applied to all subjects before and after the experimental protocol. Furthermore, the foot preference was controlled using the Lateral Preference Questionnaire proposed by Coren [10]. In the EG, the results from the Pedal Dexterity test showed that both males and females from the RCH and DLC improved their performances after the MEP. In the HC, the males slightly decreased their performance with both feet, contrarily to females. Both males and females from the CG decreased their pedal dexterity performance, namely, with the non-preferred foot. Concerning the Tinetti test, the EG of both males and females from the HC, the RCH (males were better than females regarding the gender factor), and the DLC improved their balance after the MEP. In the CG, no significant effects or interactions were found for any of the context groups.
Highlights
Aging is characterized by a series of degenerative changes in the different systems of the organism at the anthropometric, muscular, articular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neural levels, with consequences including the decline of the functional abilities and changes in physiological functioning [1, 30, 49]
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a multimodal exercise program on pedal dexterity and balance by comparing older adults from different contexts
In the tapping pedal test, the results showed that for the time factor, both genders of the experimental group from the residential care home and the daily living center improved their performance significantly with both feet
Summary
Aging is characterized by a series of degenerative changes in the different systems of the organism at the anthropometric, muscular, articular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and neural levels, with consequences including the decline of the functional abilities and changes in physiological functioning [1, 30, 49]. Mobility problems in older adults are generally associated with deficits in balance, musculoskeletal pain, gait disorders, and a decline in muscular strength of the lower limbs, which are a factor of fall risk and loss of autonomy for the execution of daily life activities [27, 46]. Compared to the upper limbs, the age-related reduction of muscle strength and mass of the lower limbs is more evident [2, 21]. This fact is important since these muscle changes of the lower limbs have higher correlations with mobility, functionality, and everyday activities of the older adults [7]. Besides a good dynamic balance, it is important that older adults are able to behave quickly and efficiently when faced with these conditions [24]
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