PurposeThere is physiological and biomechanical evidence suggesting a possible advantage of using poles in walking training programs. The purpose of this proof-of-concept study was to test the hypothesis that untrained elderly training Nordic walking for eight weeks will show higher improvements on the functional mobility, quality of life and postural balance than that training without poles; more likely to occur in self-selected walking speed (primary outcome), and the locomotor rehabilitation index than the quality of life, the static balance and the dynamic stability. It was a two-arm randomized sample- and load-controlled study.MethodsThirty-three untrained older people were randomly assigned into Nordic walking (n = 16, age: 64.6±4.1 years old) and free walking (n = 17, age: 68.6±3.9 years old) training groups.ResultsImprovements in the self-selected walking speed (primary outcome, p = 0.011, ES = 0.42 95%CI -0.31 to 1.16), locomotor rehabilitation index (p = 0.013, ES = 0.36; (95%CI -0.39 to 1.10), quality of life (p<0.05), static balance (p<0.05) and dynamic variability (p<0.05) were found in both groups.ConclusionsThe hypothesis was not supported, our findings indicated that after 8 weeks, the Nordic walking training did not result in greater improvements than free walking training for the primary outcome (self-selected walking speed) and most of the secondary outcomes (including locomotor rehabilitation index, static balance, dynamic stability, and psychological and social participation domains of quality of life).Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03096964.
It has been observed that the optimal speed (OPT) of human walking is independent of load on level surfaces because of the unaltered trajectory of the center of mass and consequent conservation of the pendular mechanism. However, the role of the inverted pendulum mechanism that combines speed, load, and gradient during walking remains unknown. In the present study, 10 subjects walked on a treadmill, with and without loading (25% of the body mass), at different speeds and slopes (0%, +7%, and +15%). The three-dimensional motion and VO2 were simultaneously registered. The mechanical external and internal work and the cost of transport (C) changed with the speed and gradient, but the load only affected C. OPT decreased with increasing gradient, and the pendular mechanics (R) was modified mainly as a result of changes in speed and gradient. OPT and R were independent of the load in these gradients. Remarkably, R increased with increasing speed and decreased (to 30%) with an increasing gradient; moreover, R was independent of load. Therefore, the energy-saving strategy by the pendular mechanism persists, although at a diminished level, in loaded walking on gradients and partially explains the OPT in this condition.
Background: Elastic bouncing is a physio-mechanical model that can elucidate running behavior in different situations, including landing and takeoff patterns and the characteristics of the muscle-tendon units during stretch and recoil in running. An increase in running speed improves the body’s elastic mechanisms. Although some measures of elastic bouncing are usually carried out, a general description of the elastic mechanism has not been explored in running performance. This study aimed to compare elastic bouncing parameters between the higher- and lower-performing athletes in a 3000 m test. Methods: Thirty-eight endurance runners (men) were divided into two groups based on 3000 m performance: the high-performance group (P high ; n = 19; age: 29 ± 5 years; mass: 72.9 ± 10 kg; stature: 177 ± 8 cm; 3000 time : 656 ± 32 s) and the low-performance group (P low ; n = 19; age: 32 ± 6 years; mass: 73.9 ± 7 kg; stature: 175 ± 5 cm; 3000 time : 751 ± 29 s). They performed three tests on different days: (i) 3000 m on a track; (ii) incremental running test; and (iii) a running biomechanical test on a treadmill at 13 different speeds from 8 to 20 km h −1 . Performance was evaluated using the race time of the 3000 m test. The biomechanics variables included effective contact time ( t ce ), aerial time ( t ae ), positive work time ( t push ), negative work time ( t break ), step frequency ( f step ), and elastic system frequency ( f sist ), vertical displacement ( S v ) in t ce and t ae ( S ce and S ae ), vertical force, and vertical stiffness were evaluated in a biomechanical submaximal test on treadmill. Results: The t ae , f sist , vertical force and stiffness were higher ( p < 0.05) and t ce and f step were lower ( p < 0.05) in P high , with no differences between groups in t push and t break . Conclusion: The elastic bouncing was optimized in runners of the best performance level, demonstrating a better use of elastic components.
Background: Nordic walking is an attractive method of endurance training. Nevertheless, the biomechanic response due to the additional contribution of using poles in relation to free walking training has been less explored in the elderly. Purpose: This randomized parallel controlled trial aimed to assess the effects of 8 weeks of Nordic walking and free walking training on the walking economy, mechanical work, metabolically optimal speed, and electromyographic activation in elderly. Methods: Thirty-three sedentary elderly were randomized into Nordic walking (n = 16) and free walking group (n = 17) with equalized loads. Submaximal walking tests were performed from 1 to 5 km h −1 on the treadmill.Results: Walking economy was improved in both free and Nordic walking groups (x 2 4.91, p = 0.014) and the metabolically optimal speed was increased by approximately 0.5 km h −1 changing the speed-cost profile. The electromyographic activation in lower and upper limbs, pendular recovery, and total, external, and internal mechanical work remained unchanged (p > 0.05). Interestingly, the internal mechanical work associated with arm movement was higher in the Nordic walking group than in the free walking group after training, while the co-contraction from upper limb muscles was reduced similarly to both groups.Conclusions: Eight weeks of Nordic walking training effectively improved the walking economy and functionality as well as maintained the gait mechanics, similar to free walking training in elderly people. This enhancement in the metabolic economy may have been mediated by a reduction in the co-contraction from upper limb muscles. Trial registration: ClinicalTrails.gov NCT03096964
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