Walking Activity Research Articles

Citywalk in China: analysis of regional and route characteristics

ABSTRACT The West introduced Citywalk to China; since then, the concept has undergone a significant transformation from mere walking or hiking activities, impacting people’s choices in transportation and urban spatial experiences. However, the defining characteristics of Citywalk remain unclear. To address this gap, this study considers representative cities in China as examples and employs a comprehensive approach including website information retrieval, SPSS software, and word frequency analysis to collect and analyze data on 611 Citywalk routes in 48 cities. The study objective is to examine the regional characteristics of Citywalk routes and elucidate the factors that shape Citywalk characteristics. Descriptive statistics are used to describe the regional characteristics of Citywalk routes, and three indicators – urban attributes, route features, and node types – are identified. Subsequently, correlation analysis is applied within and between groups. The results indicate a significant correlation among urban attributes, route features, and certain node types with high reliability. This study provides bottom-up data support for the design of linear spatial experiences in Chinese cities and the improvement of tourist route planning, thus offering valuable references for future endeavors in this field.

Sociodemographic Factors Related to Perceived Physical Activity on Chilean Adults after COVID-19 Pandemic.

The current study aimed to examine the relationship between sociodemographic variables (i.e., sex, age, marital status, educational level, socioeconomic status, and working mode) and physical activity levels declared by Chilean adults. The sample comprised 483 Chilean adults, 159 men (32.9%) and 324 women (67.1%) aged from 18 to 69 years old (36.5 ± 12.0). The participants completed an ad hoc sociodemographic online survey between December 2022 and March 2023 that included questions about characteristics of participants such as sex, age, educational level, household income, marital status, and working mode. Vigorous, moderate, and walking activities were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), a self-administered questionnaire. Men declared significantly higher vigorous and moderated physical activity than women. People aged 18 to 25, single or unmarried, and with the lowest household income, showed significantly higher scores in vigorous physical activity than those aged 26 to 45, cohabiting with a partner or married, and middle household income, respectively. Regarding working mode, people working at their job site said walking more than people not working, working in a hybrid mode, and working online. Our findings suggest that promoting strategies that increase physical activity during the pandemic is necessary to avoid health problems.

Electromyography of Sedentary Behavior: Identifying Potential for Cardiometabolic Risk Reduction.

Muscle activation during interruptions to prolonged sedentary time is a hypothesized mechanism underlying observed cardiometabolic benefits. We examined associations of quadriceps and hamstring muscle activity patterns with cardiometabolic risk markers and how these patterns varied between different sitting-interruption countermeasures. Electromyographic (EMG) data (shorts) were gathered for 1 to 2 days from healthy adults in a free-living study (n = 172, age 40.9 ± 12.9, BMI 23.6 ± 1.3) and a laboratory-based study (n = 12, age 47.0 ± 7.7, BMI 30.0 ± 4.7). Patterns examined were average EMG (aEMG ;%EMGMVC); EMG activity duration (% above signal baseline 3 μV); and usual (weighted medians) EMG activity bout amplitude (%EMGMVC) and duration (s). In the free-living study, these were regressed against risk markers (waist; fat percentage; fasting plasma glucose [FPG];total cholesterol; HDL;LDL; triglycerides); in the laboratory study, EMG patterns for the muscle groups were compared between sitting and the active countermeasures. In the free-living study, lower extremity muscles displayed minimal overall activity, with hamstrings and quadriceps using only 2.6% and 2.0% of their capacity (%EMGMVC), respectively, and being active for 30% and 25% of the time. Higher hamstring aEMG and EMG activity duration were beneficially associated with waist, HDL and fat percentage (duration only) and a longer quadriceps usual EMG activity bout duration was beneficially associated with FPG. In the laboratory study, compared with prolonged sitting, active seated or upright active-interruption countermeasures modified these EMG patterns; brief (6 min) walking and simple resistance activities (SRA) were more beneficial than was a bout of standing (30 min) with the SRAs being the only intervention that matched daily aEMG levels. Upright and physically active interruptions to sitting appear to be required to increase the typically low muscle engagement observed in free-living contexts, promoting muscle activity patterns that may help ameliorate cardiometabolic risk.

Walking away from depression: the mediating role of walking activity in depression impacting blood glucose levels of people with diabetes or prediabetes.

Depression can exacerbate diabetes by impairing self-care behaviors and increasing the risk of complication; however, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Given the suggested associations between walking activity, depression status, and blood glucose levels this study explores the intricate relationship between depression and blood glucose (BG) control, with a focus on walking activity as a behavioral mediator. The purpose of this study is to examine walking activity's mediating role in depression's impact on BG levels, investigating and validating the non-linear association between BG levels and walking activity. This retrospective real-world study demonstrates the potential of regular walking activity as a simple and accessible intervention to mitigate the negative effects of depression on BG levels in T2D and prediabetes. A cohort of 989 users with T2D and prediabetes, who regularly tracked their steps levels and BG levels for 12 months using the Dario digital health platform was evaluated. The mediating role of the monthly average number of steps on the relationship between the self-reported depression status and lagged monthly average BG was assessed. Additionally, the association between monthly walking activity and monthly average BG was tested using a piecewise linear mixed effects model. Users with self-reported depression demonstrated increased BG levels compared to users without depression (B=8.00, P=.01). The association between depression and monthly average number of steps was significant (B=-.27, P<.005) and monthly average number of steps significantly predicted the following months' average BG (B=-.81, P=.001), adjusting for depression. The monthly average number of steps significantly mediated the effect of self-reported depression on the following month's average BG (M=.22, P<.005). Further sensitivity analysis demonstrated model robustness over various periods. Finally, non-linear dynamics of walking activity over time was validated using unseen data showing a decrease in monthly average BG for users with over an average of 400 steps per day (B=-1.87, P<.01). This study shows how regular walking may reduce the negative impact of depression on BG levels in people with T2D. Our findings advocate for the integration of walking activity into treatment protocols as a cost-effective, accessible intervention strategy to improve glycemic management and depressive symptoms in this population.

Evaluating the Correlation between Eyeglass-Type Wearable Device Measurements and Subjective Physical Activity Assessments.

Introduction Wearable trackers are instrumental in monitoring various health indicators, notably daily physical activity, which is crucial for managing chronic diseases and improving overall health. This study examined the relationship between physical activity levels measured using JINS MEME, an eyeglass-type wearable device equipped with motion sensors, and subjective activity assessments reported through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Methods Healthy volunteers aged 20-60 were recruited for an observational study. Participants wore the JINS MEME throughout the day for one week, and data on walking activity were collected and analyzed alongside IPAQ responses to evaluate subjective physical activity levels. The correlation between the two sets of data was evaluated using the nonparametric Spearman's rho (ρ) correlation coefficient for both the assessed metabolic equivalents (METs) score of the JINS MEME and the IPAQ. Similarly, the relationship between the IPAQ questionnaire items and the measurements from the JINS MEME. Results The study included 42 participants and revealed a strong correlation (R=0.719, P<0.01) between the metabolic equivalents (METs) calculated from the JINS MEME and IPAQ scores, especially for walking activities. Similarly, a significant association was found between the IPAQ data and walking speed (R=0.129, P=0.02). METs showed significant relationships with all physical activities, except sitting or reclining time. Conclusion This study validated the use of eyeglass-type wearable devices, such as the JINS MEME, to accurately assess physical activity levels, demonstrating a strong correlation with subjective assessments using the IPAQ. This highlights the potential of wearable devices in comprehensive health monitoring and management strategies.

Innovative Detection and Segmentation of Mobility Activities in Patients Living with Parkinson's Disease Using a Single Ankle-Positioned Smartwatch.

The automatic detection of activities of daily living (ADL) is necessary to improve long-term home-based monitoring of Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms. While most body-worn sensor algorithms for ADL detection were developed using laboratory research systems covering full-body kinematics, it is now crucial to achieve ADL detection using a single body-worn sensor that remains commercially available and affordable for ecological use. to detect and segment Walking, Turning, Sitting-down, and Standing-up activities of patients with PD using a Smartwatch positioned at the ankle. Twenty-two patients living with PD performed a Timed Up and Go (TUG) task three times before engaging in cleaning ADL in a simulated free-living environment during a 3 min trial. Accelerations and angular velocities of the right or left ankle were recorded in three dimensions using a Smartwatch. The TUG task was used to develop detection algorithms for Walking, Turning, Sitting-down, and Standing-up, while the 3 min trial in the free-living environment was used to test and validate these algorithms. Sensitivity, specificity, and F-scores were calculated based on a manual segmentation of ADL. Sensitivity, specificity, and F-scores were 96.5%, 94.7%, and 96.0% for Walking; 90.0%, 93.6%, and 91.7% for Turning; 57.5%, 70.5%, and 52.3% for Sitting-down; and 57.5%, 72.9%, and 54.1% for Standing-up. The median of time difference between the manual and automatic segmentation was 1.31 s for Walking, 0.71 s for Turning, 2.75 s for Sitting-down, and 2.35 s for Standing-up. The results of this study demonstrate that segmenting ADL to characterize the mobility of people with PD based on a single Smartwatch can be comparable to manual segmentation while requiring significantly less time. While Walking and Turning were well detected, Sitting-down and Standing-up will require further investigation to develop better algorithms. Nonetheless, these achievements increase the odds of success in implementing wearable technologies for PD monitoring in ecological environments.

Factors Affecting Successful Aging of Older Adults and the Relationship Between Leisure Activities Duration and Successful Aging.

The study was conducted with older adults who lived in a nursing home and applied to the geriatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital between April and August 2022. The study sample was 516 older adults and the data were collected by using the Older Information Form and Successful Aging Scale (SAS). It was determined that the mean duration of daily leisure activities was 6.61 ± 3.69 hours, and their mean SAS score was 58.31 ± 15.21. A moderate positive correlation was found between the SAS scores of the older adults and the activities of shopping; whereas a low positive correlation was found between their SAS scores and activities of walking, visiting friends and relatives, growing flowers, listening to music, reading, hand knitting, spending time on social media, exercising, and puzzles (p < .05). The main results of our study revealed that planned leisure activities that older adults engage in would contribute to their successful aging.

Real-world gait and turning in individuals scheduled for total knee arthroplasty

BackgroundImproving mobility – specifically walking – is an important treatment goal of total knee arthroplasty. Objective indicators for mobility, however, are lacking in clinical evaluations. This study aimed to compare real-world gait and turning between individuals scheduled for total knee arthroplasty and healthy controls, using continuous monitoring with inertial measurement units. MethodsReal-world gait and turning data were collected for 5–7 days in individuals scheduled for total knee arthroplasty (n = 34) and healthy controls (n = 32) using inertial measurement units on the feet and lower back. Gait and turning parameters were compared between groups using a linear regression model. Data was further analyzed by stratification of gait bouts based on bout length, and turns based on turning angle and turning direction. FindingsDominant real-world gait speed was 0.21 m/s lower in individuals scheduled for total knee arthroplasty compared to healthy controls. Stride time was 0.05 s higher in individuals scheduled for total knee arthroplasty. Step time asymmetry was not different between the groups. Regarding walking activity, individuals scheduled for total knee arthroplasty walked 72 strides/h less than healthy controls, and maximum bout length was 316 strides shorter. Irrespective of the size of the turn, turning velocity was lower in individuals scheduled for total knee arthroplasty. InterpretationIndividuals scheduled for total knee arthroplasty showed specific walking and turning limitations in the real-world. Parameters derived from inertial measurement units reflected a rich profile of real-world mobility measures indicative of walking limitation of individuals scheduled for total knee arthroplasty, which may provide a relevant outcome dimension for future studies.

Correlation Analysis between Walking Permeability and Walking Effort (Case Study Terminals in Bandung City)

Abstract Bandung was chosen as a pilot area for Indonesian Mass Transit (MASTRAN) project to increase urban mobility and accessibility. With this MASTRAN project, public transportation nodes should be accessible by all modes, one of which is walking. However, in urban areas in Indonesia, walking activities are still not an option. According to some studies, this is caused by the lack of walking infrastructure and environment feasibility. Therefore, the quality of pedestrian infrastructure and environment must be improved to make these public transportation nodes easy for pedestrians to reach. In this case, walking permeability and walking effort assessment are chosen as tools to assess the pedestrian walkability. By doing these assessments, it is found that Kiaracondong Station has the largest average WPDI and WPTI values with values of 1.48 and 1.90 respectively. In addition, it is found that The South Bandung Station has the biggest walking effort index which value is 1.66. By analyzing both assessments, it can be concluded that the increase of WPDI tends to increase WPTI. Besides, it also can be concluded that stations have higher time increments than bus terminals due to an increase in the distance required for pedestrian access to the main terminal entrance.

Exploring factors associated with postoperative physical activity and sedentary behavior in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients: a cross-sectional study.

To comprehensively analyze the factors associated with different intensities of physical activity and sedentary behavior in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients in the early postoperative period, providing a basis for clinically tailored personalized intervention measures. A cross-sectional study design was employed, and 915 patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer completed a questionnaire survey on demographics, disease, health-related fitness, and psychosocial factors. Physical activity levels and sedentary behaviors were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0. The physical activity level of walking amounted to 1265.4 ± 1025.8 MET-min/week, potentially influenced by factors such as region, depression, health behavior capacity, and lactate dehydrogenase. The moderate-intensity physical activity level stood at 529.8 ± 976.5 MET-min/week, subject to influences like regional lymph node staging, body mass index, and albumin levels, among other factors. The high-intensity physical activity level was 111.1 ± 731.0 MET-min/week, potentially affected by region, grip strength, health behavior capacity, and other factors. Sedentary time averaged 5 ± 3h/day, potentially influenced by work conditions, red blood cell values, and other factors. In patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer, early postoperative walking activities predominate, with less engagement in high-intensity physical activity and prolonged sedentary time. Physical activity and sedentary behavior may be influenced by various factors such as geography, physiology, psychology, and health-related fitness. To enhance the quality of life of patients with lung cancer in the early postoperative period, tailored intervention measures should be devised based on the circumstances of the individual patients.

Efficacy of Daily Walking as a Potential Predictor of Improved Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Korea.

This study examines whether health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores differ due to the frequency of walking or physical activity (PA) throughout a week in diabetic patients in Korea. This population-based cross-sectional study used data from the 2018-2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The dependent variable was HRQoL scores as measured with EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). The independent variables were defined as three types of PA: (1) walking; (2) moderate; and (3) vigorous. An estimated population size of 2,376,066 was included in this study. The mean (95% confidence interval (CI)) age of patients was 60.12 years (59.23, 60.81), and 53.0% were female. The mean (95% CI) of EQ-5D was 0.867 (0.857, 0.877). The majority of diabetic patients reported walking daily (39.05%, 95% CI; 36.28-41.81%), while a significant proportion did not engage in moderate (65.45%, 95% CI; 62.79-68.11%) or vigorous (78.38%, 95% CI; 73.02-77.73%) PA at all. After controlling for covariates, EQ-5D scores significantly increased when patients had walked once per week for at least 10 min in the Tobit regression model. The frequency of walking was the most significant predicting factor for better HRQoL in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Navigating Public Urban (Green) Space – An Analysis of Ethnic “Other” Women’s Walking Activities in Denmark

Globally, walking is the most popular leisure time physical activity (LTPA) among adults. Yet, navigating public spaces might pose distinct challenges for ethnic “Other” women, whose bodies and veiling practices have come under scrutiny in Western societies. Based on an ethnographic study of a walking group with ethnic “Other” women living in a deprived area of a Danish city, this article explores how the women negotiated being physically active in urban (green) space. Drawing on Lefebvre’s spatial theory, we paid particular attention to the boundaries and norms that characterized the social space of the walking group. Contrary to other activities, walking in a group with other women appeared as an accessible form of LTPA during which participants could practice self-care and preserve “embodied respectability.” Our analysis emphasizes women’s agency in appropriating urban green spaces, whilst also revealing how age, (dis)ability and, particularly, gender and cultural norms regulate their leisure practices.

Walking one hour per day and the derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio are associated with outcome in palliative second-line immunotherapy for patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck

ObjectivesTo determine whether routinary walking activity and the derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio are associated with outcomes in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck. MethodsThis multicenter retrospective cohort study included 64 patients diagnosed with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck and treated with immunotherapy (Programmed Death-1 and Programmed Death-ligand-1 proteins inhibitors) at two tertiary centers. We compared a group that performed uninterrupted physical activity for 1 h per day and controls who performed no activity. The derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was calculated as follows: [neutrophils / (leukocytes – neutrophils)]. Progression-free survival and overall survival were evaluated. ResultsWe included 28 (44%) and 36 (56%) patients in the activity and non-activity groups, respectively. Patient characteristics, treatment details, and tumor Programmed Death-ligand-1 expression were not associated with either progression-free survival or overall survival. Physical activity was an independent beneficial factor for progression-free survival (p < 0.001) and overall survival (p < 0.001). By contrast, a derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio <3.5 was an independent beneficial factor for overall survival (p = 0.013), but not for progression-free survival (p = 0.328). ConclusionsWalking one hour per day and having a high proportion of lymphocytes to neutrophiles (expressed as a low derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) independently predict a better prognosis in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck treated with immunotherapy. Level of evidenceIII.

Impacts of barometric pressure on metabolic rate: A plateau experimental study

Metabolic rate is a fundamental parameter influencing thermal comfort, which further affects the well-being and productivity of the occupants. Here, the impacts of barometric pressure on respiratory parameters, metabolic rate, heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation are studied through pressure chamber experiments. The results indicate that the minute ventilation of the subject rises significantly with declining barometric pressures, and usually, this is accomplished by increasing respiratory depth rather than breathing frequency. When the barometric pressure declines from 72.1 kPa to 66.2 kPa, the metabolic rate of subjects at sitting and 1, 2, 3, and 4 km/h walking activities rises by 4.8 %, 7.2 %, 3.5 %, 2.5 %, and 4.3 %, respectively. As the barometric pressure decreases further to 61.9 kPa, the metabolic rate rises again by 3.0 %, 9.8 %, 6.4 %, 5.0 %, and 2.4 %, respectively. In addition, there is often a risk of overestimation when using the heart rate to estimate the metabolic rate at high altitudes, thus this method should be used cautiously. The results are significant in laying the groundwork for elucidating the relationship between metabolic rate and barometric pressure. Further, it is essential for the establishment of thermal comfort standards at high altitudes.

Effect of different LED light colors on welfare, performance, some behavioral patterns, and blood parameters of Muscovy ducks

BackgroundThe current study was conducted to assess the impact of different LED light colors on welfare indicators in Muscovy ducks. These welfare parameters encompassed growth performance, specific behaviors, tonic immobility (TI), feather score, haematological, and serum biochemical parameters. Eighty-four healthy unsexed Muscovy ducklings aged two weeks were randomly assigned to four groups (3replicates/group; each replicate contains 7 birds) based on different LED light colors. The first group was raised under white light, the second under red light, the third under blue light, and the fourth under yellow light. To assess the impact of various LED light colors on welfare, growth performance indicators (body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio) were measured. Behavioral patterns including feeding, drinking, standing, walking, sitting, feather pecking, and other activities were recorded. Tonic immobility test (TI) and feather condition scoring were conducted at 3, 6, and 10 weeks of age. At the end of the study blood samples were collected for hematological and serum biochemical analyses.ResultsThe results revealed that using blue, yellow, and red colors had no adverse effect on the final body weight of the ducks (P > 0.05). Unlike to red light, blue light significantly reduced feather pecking, TI time and cortisol concentrations and improved the feather condition score (P ≤ 0.05).ConclusionsThe current findings suggest that the application of blue light effectively improves welfare indices and has no detrimental impact on the growth performance of Muscovy ducks thereby positively contributing to their welfare.

Amplify Gait to Improve Locomotor Engagement in Spinal Cord Injury (AGILE SCI) trial: study protocol for an assessor blinded randomized controlled trial

BackgroundAmong ambulatory people with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), balance deficits are a primary factor limiting participation in walking activities. There is broad recognition that effective interventions are needed to enhance walking balance following iSCI. Interventions that amplify self-generated movements (e.g., error augmentation) can accelerate motor learning by intensifying sensorimotor feedback and facilitating exploration of motor control strategies. These features may be beneficial for retraining walking balance after iSCI. We have developed a cable-driven robot that creates a movement amplification environment during treadmill walking. The robot applies a continuous, laterally-directed, force to the pelvis that is proportional in magnitude to real-time lateral velocity. Our purpose is to investigate the effects of locomotor training in this movement amplification environment on walking balance. We hypothesize that for ambulatory people with iSCI, locomotor training in a movement amplification environment will be more effective for improving walking balance and participation in walking activities than locomotor training in a natural environment (no applied external forces).MethodsWe are conducting a two-arm parallel-assignment intervention. We will enroll 36 ambulatory participants with chronic iSCI. Participants will be randomized into either a control or experimental group. Each group will receive 20 locomotor training sessions. Training will be performed in either a traditional treadmill environment (control) or in a movement amplification environment (experimental). We will assess changes using measures that span the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework including 1) clinical outcome measures of gait, balance, and quality of life, 2) biomechanical assessments of walking balance, and 3) participation in walking activities quantified by number of steps taken per day.DiscussionTraining walking balance in people with iSCI by amplifying the individual’s own movement during walking is a radical departure from current practice and may result in new strategies for addressing balance impairments. Knowledge gained from this study will expand our understanding of how people with iSCI improve walking balance and how an intervention targeting walking balance affects participation in walking activities. Successful outcomes could motivate development of clinically feasible tools to replicate the movement amplification environment within clinical settings.Trial registrationNCT04340063.

Conceptualization of Cloud-Based Motion Analysis and Navigation for Wearable Robotic Applications.

The behavior of pedestrians in a non-constrained environment is difficult to predict. In wearable robotics, this poses a challenge, since devices like lower-limb exoskeletons and active orthoses need to support different walking activities, including level walking and climbing stairs. While a fixed movement trajectory can be easily supported, switches between these activities are difficult to predict. Moreover, the demand for these devices is expected to rise in the years ahead. In this work, we propose a cloud software system for use in wearable robotics, based on geographical mapping techniques and Human Activity Recognition (HAR). The system aims to give context to the surrounding pedestrians by providing hindsight information. The system was partially implemented and tested. The results indicate a viable concept with great extensibility prospects.

Effects of motor and cognitive complex training on obstacle walking and brain activity in people with Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial.

The difficulties in obstacle walking are significant in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) leading to an increased fall risk. Effective interventions to improve obstacle walking with possible training-related neuroplasticity changes are needed. We developed two different exercise programs, complex walking training and motor-cognitive training, both challenging motor and cognitive function for people with PD to improve obstacle walking. To investigate the effects of these two novel training programs on obstacle walking and brain activities in PD. A single-center randomized, single-blind controlled study. University laboratory; outpatient. Individuals with idiopathic PD. Thirty-two participants were randomly assigned to the complex walking training group (N.=11), motor-cognitive training group (N.=11) or control group (N.=10). Participants in training groups received exercises for 40 minutes/session, with a total of 12-session over 6 weeks. Control group did not receive additional training. Primary outcomes included obstacle walking, and brain activities (prefrontal cortex (PFC), premotor cortex (PMC), and supplementary motor area (SMA)) during obstacle walking by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Secondary outcomes included obstacle crossing, timed up and go test (TUG), cognitive function in different domains, and fall efficacy scale (FES-I). The motor-cognitive training group demonstrated greater improvements in obstacle walking speed and stride length, SMA activity, obstacle crossing velocity and stride length, digit span test, and TUG than the control group. The complex walking training did not show significant improvement in obstacle walking or change in brain activation compared with control group. However, the complex walking training resulted in greater improvements in Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test, TUG and FES-I compared with the control group. Our 12-session of the cognitive-motor training improved obstacle walking performance with increased SMA activities in people with PD. However, the complex walking training did not lead such beneficial effects as the cognitive-motor training. The cognitive-motor training is suggested as an effective rehabilitation program to improve obstacle walking ability in individuals with PD.

Walking Interventions and Sleep Quality of Persons Living With Dementia and Their Family Caregivers: Effects of Different Walking Companions.

To examine the effect of walking interventions on sleep quality of persons with dementia (PWD) and their caregivers (dyads), and how different companions affect results. Forty-five dyads were divided into three groups: a control group and two experimental groups (one with a care attendant, one with a family caregiver). The two experimental groups engaged in 120 minutes of walking per week for 24 weeks. A significant improvement in sleep quality was observed among PWD in the family caregiver group (Wald χ2 = 4.55, p = 0.033), whereas there was no improvement in the care attendant group. A slight improvement in sleep quality of family caregivers was also found. Findings suggest the importance of creating individualized walking activity plans for dyads, incorporating trust and rapport-building strategies to improve sleep quality. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(8), 46-56.].

Searching for Life Satisfaction in Nature through Tourism: An Exploratory Research on Hikers

Abstract Hiking is a walking activity carried out in predetermined natural environments. It is practised by many people because it does not require much equipment and expertise, and it also offers its participants a much more economical leisure time activity than other sports branches, besides providing positive impacts on health and well-being. In this respect, the study investigated whether there is a relationship between hikers’ perceptions of nature, the benefits they get from hiking, and whether there is a relationship between hiking and life satisfaction. A qualitative approach was adopted, and a semi-structured interview form was prepared by utilising the relevant literature. In this context, interviews were conducted on 24.04.2023–11.06.2023 with 21 hikers over the age of 18 who were hiking in nature groups in Eskişehir with purposive and snowball sampling methods. The answers obtained were subjected to descriptive analysis. The results revealed that almost all the participants started hiking with intrinsic rather than extrinsic motivations. The findings also show that hiking has an important place in the lives of individuals, that it positively affects the lives of the participants, and that its non-economic benefits make significant contributions to increasing the life satisfaction of the participants.