Effects of Nordic Walking Training in Energetic, Mechanical and Neuromuscular Parameters of Elderly. A Randomized Clinical Trail

Brief Summary

Detailed Description

Introduction: Considering the increase in the elderly population and their life expectancy, together with the expansion of Nordic walking (NW) interventions as a training method for the elderly, there is a need of preventive studies of RCTs and with methodological good quality approach to enable physical education, health and rehabilitation professionals to make decisions regarding the type, the volume and the intensity of NW exercise in promoting the health of the sedentary elderly. Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate, through a randomized clinical trial, the effects of eight weeks of NW and FW training on quality of life (QoL), static balance, dynamic variability, self-selected treadmill walking speed (SSWSTreadmill), Locomotor rehabilitation (LRI) Parameters of Pendular Mechanism (external, internal and total mechanical work -Wext, Wint, Wtot, Recovery -R,Cost of Transport - C), Electromyographic parameters (Average signal and co-contraction of the AD, TB, VL, BF, AT and MG muscles), heart rate of exercise - HRexercise and the rate of perceived exertion (RPE), in sedentary elderly. of sedentary elderly. Experimental Design: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial (RCT). Study Site: School of Physical Education, Physiotherapy and Dance (ESEFID), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Methods: The sample comprised 33 sedentary participants randomly divided into two groups (Nordic walking group and Free walking group who will perform training for 8 weeks.

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes

• Oxygen consumption (VO2)(from baseline to 8 weeks)
• Optimal Walking Speed (OPT)(from baseline to 8 weeks)
• Rest Arterial Systolic Blood Pressure (SBPrest)(from baseline to 8 weeks)
• Locomotor rehabilitation index (LRI)(Change from baseline LRI at 8 weeks)
• Quality of life (QoL)(Change from baseline QoL at 8 weeks)
• Exercise Heart Rate (HRexercise)(from baseline to 8 weeks)
• Cost of transport (C)(from baseline to 8 weeks)
• Heart Rate at anaerobic threshold (HRVT2)(from baseline to 8 weeks)
• Parameters of Static balance (Amplitude ans Speed of Center of pressure in X, Y and Z axis)(Change from baseline Parameters of Static Balance at 8 weeks)
• Oxygen Consumption at anaerobic threshold (VO2VT2)(from baseline to 8 weeks)
• Peak Oxygen Consumption (VO2peak)(from baseline to 8 weeks)
• Rest Heart Rate (HRrest)(from baseline to 8 weeks)
• Rest Arterial Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBPrest)(Change from baseline DBPrest at 8 weeks)
• Parameters of Dynamic variability (coefficient of variation (CoV) of Stride length (SL), stride frequency (SF), swing time (ST), and contact time (CT)(Change from baseline Parameters of Dynamic Balance at 8 weeks)
• Spatial Temporal Parameters (stride frequency, stride length, swing time and contact time)(Change from baseline Spatial Temporal parameters at 8 weeks)
• Parameters of Pendular Mechanism (external, internal and total mechanical work, Wext, Wint and Wtot, respectively, Recovery).(Change from baseline Parameters of Mechanical Work at 8 weeks)
• Movement Body Center of Mass (BCoM) on X, Y, Z axis(Change from baseline of BCoM at 8 weeks)
• Electromyographic Parameters (mean amplitude of the signal and co-contraction) of the muscles: anterior deltoid (AD), triceps brachii (TB), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), anterior tibial (AT) and medial gastrocnemius (MG)(Change from baseline Electromyographic parameters at 8 weeks)
• Other Parameters of Pendular Mechanism (Percentage of congruity (%Cong), instantaneous pendular transduction and Recovery of step, shift phase (PhaseShift).(Change from baseline other Parameters of Pendular Mechanism at 8 weeks)
• Maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) of the muscles: anterior deltoid (AD), triceps brachii (TB), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), anterior tibial (AT) and medial gastrocnemius (MG)(Change from baseline MVC at 8 weeks)