The electrical characteristics of the muscles surrounding the knee during underwater resistance training

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of walking environment on the gait pattern of frail elderly people. [Subject] Fifteen frail elderly women volunteered for this study (mean age 85.1±5.3 years). [Method] Measurements were conducted under two conditions. In condition 1, participants walked close to a wall. For condition 2, they walked out of reach of the wall. Measurement indicators were body acceleration (Intensity Exercise: IE), body sway and walking speed. The participants were separated into two groups based on the error sum of delta of acceleration (IE). [Result] In the high-IE group under condition 2, body sway was larger than that of the low-IE group. The body sway under condition 1 was not significantly different between the high-IE group and low-IE group. [Conclusion] The walking environment of condition 1 lessens the risk of falls regardless of IE. © 2012, The Society of Physical Therapy Science. All rights reserved.