Tag: elderly people

Gait pattern of people after fractures of proximal femoral epiphysis treated surgically. Preliminary report

Beata Kita, Tomasz Ridan, Tomasz Łosień, Katarzyna Kniaziew-Gomoluch, Joanna Szymańska

B. Kita, T. Ridan, T. Łosień, K. Kniaziew-Gomoluch, J. Szymańska – Gait pattern of people after fractures of proximal femoral epiphysis treated surgically. Preliminary report. Fizjoterapia Polska 2020; 20(3); 164-170

Abstract
Introduction. It is estimated that more than 50% of patients who functioned well before the proximal femoral fracture were unable to return to pre-injury activity. Moreover, mortality in this group of patients is estimated at over 21% within the first year of fracture, and in the next 5 years this number increases to 59%. The aim of the study is to analyze the impact of the fracture of the proximal part of femur treated surgically on selected gait parameters.
Material and methods. 51 people were examined, including 40 women and 11 men. The average age of the respondents was 73 years. The youngest person in the study group was 51 years old and the oldest 92 years old. The following research tools were used in the study: interview, analysis of medical documentation and gait assessment on the tensometric platform. Results. In the age group 50-64 years, the walking cycle time among the examined people was on average 1.51 sec in women and 1.35 sec in men. In the age group 65-80 years, among women and men is 1.37 sec. Conclusions. The gait pattern of people after a fracture of the proximal femur is changed and deviates from the norm. In the study group, the length of the walk cycle in both women and men in the age group 50 -64 years old, as well as 65-80 years old, is significantly shorter compared to the assumptions of the standard. The study did not show significant differences in step length on the operated and non-operated side in all age groups, both in women and men. Walking cycle times (stride time) in the 54-64 age group and 65-80 years of age among the surveyed men is within the upper limit of the norm. On the other hand, among the surveyed women in these age groups, the walking cycle time significantly exceeds the upper limit of the norm.
Key words:
gait pattern, proximal femur fractures, gait disorders, elderly people
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Nordic walking as a form of physical activity affecting gait and balance in elderly people

Agnieszka Leszczyńska, Marta Dopierała, Jan W.Raczkowski

A. Leszczyńska, M. Dopierała, J. W.Raczkowski: Nordic walking as a form of physical activity affecting gait and balance in elderly people. FP 2015;15(4);98-107

Abstract
Introduction. In the process of aging there comes to deterioration in mobility which is related to, among others, age-related diseases. The pathophysiological changes, the applied treatment may adversely affect mobility leading to the disorders of postural stability and gait control. Gait/Walking is a natural form of physical activity and is a component of almost all daily activities. To sustain physical activity, minimize imbalance disorders and to improve gait, particularly in elderly people, Nordic Walking – a popular form of activity – is used more and more frequently.
Aim. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Nordic Walking training on the improvement of gait and balance in elderly people and its impact on subjective assessment of their well-being.
Material and methods. The study included 30 elderly subjects, most of them actively spending their leisure time, not practising Nordic Walking. Age and sex of the respondents, physical activity, difficulty in walking and subjective assessment of well-being were estimated on the basis of individual research questionnaire. The Functional Reach Test was used for quick evaluation of balance and the risk of falls. Get up and Go test and Tinetii Gait and Balance test were used for preliminary evaluation of gait and balance in elderly patients. The tests were performed both before and a month after Nordic Walking training. The results were statistically analyzed applying the PQStat software.
Results. Analysis of the results obtained before and after 1-month training in Functional Reach and Tinetti tests demonstrated significant improvement after the training, whereas the values obtained in the Get up and Go test after the training were much lower than before the training. A state of well-being in the subjective assessment of the respondents improved after Nordic Walking training.
Conclusions. One-month Nordic Walking training improved significantly gait and balance in the investigated subjects. A state of well-being in the subjective assessment of the respondents also improved after the training. Nordic Walking can become an important element in increasing the physical activity of older people and in improving their quality of life.

Key words:
physical activity, Nordic Walking, elderly people

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