A Randomized Clinical Trial on the Effects of Walking on Gait in Older People with Dementia.

Luning, H. (Helga) (2008) A Randomized Clinical Trial on the Effects of Walking on Gait in Older People with Dementia. thesis, Human Movement Sciences.

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Abstract

Background: Recent studies emphasize that gait is affected in all subtypes of dementia This can be observed in a deterioration of several quantitative gait-parameters. Despite deterioration of cognition, implicit learning in older people with dementia is still possible, so an intervention based on procedural learning may improve gait. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a walking intervention improves gait-performance in older people with dementia. Methods: Ten institutionalized demented older people (mean age 82.2 ± 5.07 years) were randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group. The experimental group walked thirty minutes, five days a week, during six weeks. The control group received social visits with the same frequency. Quantitative gait-parameters, functional performances, and lower limb strength were measured. Results: The statistical analysis showed a significant effect with medium effect size for increase of walking speed during the figure of eight (d = 0.553, p = .032), and an effect with a medium, but nonsignificant, effect size for walking speed during normal walking ( d = 0.530, p > .05). For lower limb strength a non-significant negative effect with a medium effect size (d = -0.540, p > .05) was found. Conclusion: A six week walking intervention can improve dynamic balance and walking speed in older people with dementia, but has no positive effect on lower limb strength. However, because of the small research population more research is needed to give more defmite answers.

Item Type:	Thesis (Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Heuvelen, Dr. Marieke J.G. van and Blankevoort, Drs. Christiaan G.
Faculty:	Medical Sciences
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2020 10:55
Last Modified:	25 Jun 2020 10:55
URI:	https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/1600

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