Comparison of walking abilities between before and after preventive training

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the walking abilities of elderly people between before and after training preventive approaches. Twenty-seven elderly people who were utilizing Long-Term Care Insurance participated in a three-month training program. One subject was selected from each of three groups: disuse syndrome (A), orthopedic disease (B) and neurological disease (C). Walking speed, step length and cadence were measured and the gait pattern was analyzed by a three-dimensional motion analysis system before and after the training. Subjects A and B improved their gait parameters, and joint moment and power spectrum was similar to healthy adults after the training. However, subject C showed no improvement, not only in gait parameters but also in joint moment and power spectrum after the training. These results suggest the importance of further examination of strategies of training and tests for persons with neurological diseases.