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http://dx.doi.org/10.14578/jkfs.2014.103.3.503

Effects of Forest-Walking Exercise on Functional Fitness and Gait Pattern in the Elderly  

Choi, Jong-Hwan (Department of Physical Education, Chungbuk National University)
Shin, Chang-Seob (Department of Forest Science, Chungbuk National University)
Yeoun, Poung-Sik (Department of Forest Science, Chungbuk National University)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science / v.103, no.3, 2014 , pp. 503-509 More about this Journal
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Forest-walking exercise on gait pattern in the elderly. The subjects (n=37) were assigned to 2 groups: Forest-walking exercise (FWE) group (n=19, $66.34{\pm}4.31$ years old) and In-door treadmill-walking exercise (ITWE) group (n=18, $67.18{\pm}2.78$ years old). The subjects participated in FWE program or ITWE program (3 times/week, 80 min/day) for 12 weeks. The subjects were tested on functional fitness (strength, endurance, agility/balance, BMI) and gait pattern (cadence, velocity, and stability) at the beginning and the end of the 12-weeks program. For data analysis, mean and standard deviation scores were calculated, and independent t-test and repeated two-way ANOVA were used. The results of this study were as follow: First, FWE group was significantly more improved than ITWE group on functional fitness(lower-body muscular strength, lower-body flexibility, mobility, cardiorespiratory endurance) after 12-weeks exercise program. But both groups showed equally improvements on functional fitness (upper-body muscular strength, upper-body flexibility, BMI). Second, FWE group was significantly more improved than ITWE group on cadence, gait velocity, and gait stability after 12-weeks exercise program. Therefore, this study may suggest that Forest-walking exercise based on sensory-motor functional integration improves efficiently functional fitness and gait pattern in the elderly, and further becomes an effective exercise method that makes more dynamic life, and prevents from falling.
Keywords
forest-walking exercise; sensory-motor functional integration; gait pattern; cadence; gait velocity; gait stability; the elderly;
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