The influence of balance exercise on gait pattern with or without association to dual-task in elderly

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the gait pattern associated or not to dual-task in elderly individuals with or without history of falls and/or fear of falling, besides the influence of balance exercise on the gait pattern. Both male and female subjects with 60 years or older will be randomized into three groups: Group A with 15 elderly who will perform 20 sessions of supervised balance exercises; Group B with 15 elderly who will perform 2 supervised balance exercises and 18 sessions of home balance exercises; Group C with 15 elderly who won't perform any balance exercise during 10 weeks (correspondent period of the intervention program). Anthropometric analysis (weight and height), Modified Baecke Questionnaire, which measures habitual physical activity in the elderly; Whoqol-bref to assess quality of life of the elderly; Falls Efficacy Scale - International (FES-I) - Brasil to assess fear of falling and questionnaire to evaluate the history of falls will be applied. The spatio-temporal gait variables (walk speed, step length, percentage of stance and percentage of single-leg stance) associated to the electromyography activity of vastus lateralis, tibialis anterior, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius lateralis muscles will be evaluated during five conditions: walking with a self-selected velocity, gait with simple and complex cognitive tasks, gait with simple and complex motor tasks. The intervention balance program will consist of warm-up (10 minutes), , balance exercises (40 minutes) and relaxation part (5 minutes). The evaluations will be perform at baseline, after 10 weeks and with a follow-up of 3 months. For the statistical analysis, ANOVA, Pearson correlation test, linear regression model will be used. Univariate analyses and post-hoc tests (Tukey) will be employed whenever needed. The SPSS (SPSS for Windows - Version 11.0 - SPSS inc) will be used and differences were considered significant at p < 0.05. (AU)