Mobility of sedentary older people: benefit from an adapted physical activity program

Abstract

Objective: to assess the impact of an adapted physical activity program on the ability of elderly people with reduced mobility. In total 65 elderly subjects living in institutions divided into 2 groups according to sex, including 35 women and 30 men and according to age <75 years (n = 34) and ≥ 75 years (n = 31) selected occasionally were subjected to an adapted physical activity program over a period of 3 months and we verified the effects of this program at the beginning and at the end of the program on joint flexibility of the back, static and dynamic balance, general dynamic coordination or endurance. This study showed that men and women only significantly improved their static balance; however on top of that men significantly changed their speed, distance to walk test and maximum oxygen consumption. Regarding the influence of age, subjects under the age of 75 significantly improved their flexibility, static and dynamic coordination, speed and distance in the six-minute walk test, while subjects aged 75 and over n 'have changed only their static balance. This study reveals that the practice of adapted physical activity allows the elderly to improve their mobility (back joint flexibility, static and dynamic balance, general dynamic coordination and endurance). However, these benefits depend on the age and gender of the subjects. Men improved more parameters than women; however, with regard to the influence of the program on age, we observed that subjects with an age below 75 years improved more parameters than those with age greater than or equal to 75 years.