A Training Program Using an Agility Ladder for Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Summary

The aim of this study is to present an agility training program for older people. The feasibility of this program is described, and the training protocol demonstrated by video imaging.

Abstract

Aging impairs physical and cognitive functions and limits daily activities. Agility training can improve or maintain physical functioning in older people. The purpose of this study is to report the physical fitness benefits of a training program for independent community-dwelling older adults using an agility ladder. Each training session lasted approximately 30 minutes, and the benefits were achieved with two sessions per week for 14 weeks. Training was timed and involved four different drills and varying levels of difficulty through time. The exercises were performed at the School of Physical Education of the University of Campinas, São Paulo state, Brazil. The study participants (n = 16; mean age of 66.9 ± 5.0 years) were instructed to perform the exercises as quickly as possible without making mistakes and were assisted by a physical trainer when they made mistakes. Assessments were performed both before and after training using five functional tests (i.e., Illinois agility, five times sit-to-stand, timed up-and-go, walking usual speed, and one-leg stand). Although the study sample was not compared with a control group, the results indicate that training protocols using an agility ladder are easy and practical and improve physical function performance in older adults.

Introduction

Being active while aging can optimize opportunities to improve physical, social, and mental health, enabling older people to participate actively in society¹. Older adults should be payed attention to because of the consequences of aging². People worldwide are living longer, and life expectancy is greater than 70 years for the first time in history. The number of individuals aged 60 years or older is increasing rapidly, and the health of these populations is usually poor. Aging impairs physical functions, mental capacity, and social interactions as a direct result of diseases or syndromes².

Protocol

The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) under Protocol Number 2479761. Written informed consent was obtained in-person from all study participants. Sixteen participants of both sexes were recruited from the community of the metropolitan region of Campinas by searching the database of the Applied Kinesiology Laboratory (AKL). The inclusion criteria were 1) individuals aged 60 and older; 2) ability to answer the questionnaires used in this study; 3) ability to walk independently without difficulty; 4) availability to participate in the intervention during 3 months with at least 90% attendance. The exclusion criteri....

Results

Sixteen male and female independent community-living older people with a mean age of 66.9 ± 5.0 years were enrolled in the study. The interventions and assessments were performed at the School of Physical Education of UNICAMP.

Statistical analysis was performed using Minitab 18 software. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the functional test results before and after training. P values smaller than 0.05 were considered sig.......

Discussion

Several agility training programs are used for different populations, including sports teams⁴, children¹², and older people^6,10. These programs include square stepping exercises^10,11 like the sequences described in the present study and can significantly improve the overall physical fitness of older adults by decreasing the risk of falls, fractures, immobili.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Bluetooth speaker	JBL	-	Used to time all protocol and signal the 30 s of each subset
Chair	-	-	Used on assessments
Clipboard	Tilibra	-	Used to support documents
Crepe Tape of 2cm	Dexter	-	Used to create the agility ladder on the floor
Measuring Tape	Stakley	-	Used to measure assessments distance
Pen	Bic	-	Used to note data
Saucer Cone	Kipsta	-	Used on assessments
Stowatch	Vollo	-	Used to time assessments results
Sulfite Paper	Chamex	-	used to write all data