Purpose: This study focused on maintaining and improving the walking function of late-stage older individuals while longitudinally tracking the effects of regular exercise programs in a day-care service specialized fo...Purpose: This study focused on maintaining and improving the walking function of late-stage older individuals while longitudinally tracking the effects of regular exercise programs in a day-care service specialized for preventive care over 5 years, using detailed gait function measurements with an accelerometer-based system. Methods: Seventy individuals (17 male and 53 female) of a daycare service in Tokyo participated in a weekly exercise program, meeting 1 - 2 times. The average age of the participants at the start of the program was 81.4 years. Gait function, including gait speed, stride length, root mean square (RMS) of acceleration, gait cycle time and its standard deviation, and left-right difference in stance time, was evaluated every 6 months. Results: Gait speed and stride length improved considerably within six months of starting the exercise program, confirming an initial improvement in gait function. This suggests that regular exercise programs can maintain or improve gait function even age groups that predictably have a gradual decline in gait ability due to enhanced age. In the long term, many indicators tended to approach baseline values. However, the exercise program seemingly counteracts age-related changes in gait function and maintains a certain level of function. Conclusions: While a decline in gait ability with aging is inevitable, establishing appropriate exercise habits in late-stage older individuals may contribute to long-term maintenance of gait function.展开更多
Purpose: This study verified the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which can be worn during walking and exercise, in elderly individuals with late-stage knee pain who exercise regularly. M...Purpose: This study verified the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which can be worn during walking and exercise, in elderly individuals with late-stage knee pain who exercise regularly. Methods: Thirty-two late-stage elderly individuals were evaluated for knee pain during rest, walking, and program exercises, with and without TENS. Gait analysis was performed using an IoT-based gait analysis device to examine the effects of TENS-induced analgesia on gait. Results: TENS significantly reduced knee pain during rest, walking, and programmed exercises, with the greatest analgesic effect observed during walking. The greater the knee pain without TENS, the more significant the analgesic effect of TENS. A comparison of gait parameters revealed a significant difference only in the gait cycle time, with a trend towards faster walking with TENS;however, the effect was limited. Conclusion: TENS effectively relieves knee pain in late-stage elderly individuals and can be safely applied during exercise. Pain management using TENS provides important insights into the implementation of exercise therapy in this age group.展开更多
文摘Purpose: This study focused on maintaining and improving the walking function of late-stage older individuals while longitudinally tracking the effects of regular exercise programs in a day-care service specialized for preventive care over 5 years, using detailed gait function measurements with an accelerometer-based system. Methods: Seventy individuals (17 male and 53 female) of a daycare service in Tokyo participated in a weekly exercise program, meeting 1 - 2 times. The average age of the participants at the start of the program was 81.4 years. Gait function, including gait speed, stride length, root mean square (RMS) of acceleration, gait cycle time and its standard deviation, and left-right difference in stance time, was evaluated every 6 months. Results: Gait speed and stride length improved considerably within six months of starting the exercise program, confirming an initial improvement in gait function. This suggests that regular exercise programs can maintain or improve gait function even age groups that predictably have a gradual decline in gait ability due to enhanced age. In the long term, many indicators tended to approach baseline values. However, the exercise program seemingly counteracts age-related changes in gait function and maintains a certain level of function. Conclusions: While a decline in gait ability with aging is inevitable, establishing appropriate exercise habits in late-stage older individuals may contribute to long-term maintenance of gait function.
文摘Purpose: This study verified the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), which can be worn during walking and exercise, in elderly individuals with late-stage knee pain who exercise regularly. Methods: Thirty-two late-stage elderly individuals were evaluated for knee pain during rest, walking, and program exercises, with and without TENS. Gait analysis was performed using an IoT-based gait analysis device to examine the effects of TENS-induced analgesia on gait. Results: TENS significantly reduced knee pain during rest, walking, and programmed exercises, with the greatest analgesic effect observed during walking. The greater the knee pain without TENS, the more significant the analgesic effect of TENS. A comparison of gait parameters revealed a significant difference only in the gait cycle time, with a trend towards faster walking with TENS;however, the effect was limited. Conclusion: TENS effectively relieves knee pain in late-stage elderly individuals and can be safely applied during exercise. Pain management using TENS provides important insights into the implementation of exercise therapy in this age group.
