GAIT PATTERN, PREVALENCE OF FALLS AND FEAR OF FALLING IN ACTIVE AND SEDENTARY ELDERLY WOMEN

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Aging triggers gait changes and increases the risk of falls and the fear of falling, compromising the health and functional capacity of the elderly. Previous studies have investigated the practice of physical exercise as a possible factor to reduce these problems, but the results so far are inconclusive.

Objective:

To analyze the gait parameters, the prevalence of falls and the fear of falling in active and sedentary elderly women.

Methods:

Thirty-five women aged 60-75 years were divided in two groups: sedentary group (SG), who did not practice physical exercises regularly in the last year, and active group (AG) who practiced physical exercise in an extension project of a public university, for at least six months. The data referring to the spatio-temporal parameters of gait were collected using a 4.88m gait mat with pressure sensors. The elderly women walked on the carpet under two experimental conditions: preferred speed and highest possible speed. Three attempts were made randomly in each condition, totaling six attempts. The volunteers also answered two questionnaires: Baecke questionnaire, to assess the physical fitness, and Falls questionnaire to assess the incidence and consequences of falls.

Results:

Gait velocity, cadence, and stride length were significantly higher in the active elderly, while the time in double stance was significantly higher in the sedentary elderly in both conditions. Furthermore, the active elderly women had a lower prevalence of falls (22%) and fear of falling (22%) compared to sedentary women (58% and 70%, respectively).

Conclusion:

The regular practice of physical exercises in physical education programs for the elderly seems to be an effective strategy to minimize the effects of the aging process, the risk of falls and the fear of falling in elderly women.

Keywords:
aging; motor activity; exercise; walking.