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ABSTRACT: A randomized controlled trial was undertaken to determine the impact of a 12-month exercise program on the temporal characteristics of the foot rollover during walking, based on plantar pressure data.
One hundred twenty one postmenopausal women aged 41 to 77 years comprised the sample and were randomly recruited from the community. Exercise and control women were tested before and at the end of the trial. The temporal characteristics were assessed with the women walking barefoot at a self-selected speed over a 9-meter-long walking track having a built-in pressure platform. The initial and final contacts at the lateral and medial heel, metatarsal heads I to V, and the hallux (medial and lateral) were measured.
Women from the exercise group presented a latter time of making contact in the relative metatarsal 4, metatarsal 5 (absolute and relative), and medial heel (absolute and relative) and earlier relative initial contact in toe 1. In the modification rates, postmenopausal women from the exercise group presented (1) latter final contact (absolute and relative) in metatarsal 5, (2) latter relative final contact in metatarsal 4, and (3) earlier relative initial contact in toe 1. Postmenopausal women from the control group presented an earlier initial contact in metatarsal 3 (absolute and relative). Repeated-measures analysis of variance demonstrated a time effect in most variables considered.
The exercise program is effective in improving the gait pattern in postmenopausal women who adhere, and time has the main effect.
Menopause (New York, N.Y.) 02/2011; 18(7):771-7. · 3.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to establish a reference dataset for temporal parameters on postmenopausal women during walking and to explore the effect of obesity and sarcopenic obesity on the same parameters.
Based on plantar pressure data collected from 239 postmenopausal women, the initial contact, final contact, time to peak pressure and the duration of contact at the 10 anatomical areas of the foot considered were measured. Body composition was evaluated by octopolar bioimpedance.
Non-obese and non-sarcopenic started with heel contact followed by a latero-medial contact of the metatarsals and finally the hallux (the sarcopenic obese group ended in the toes 2-5). After heel off, the forefoot started to push off at the lateral metatarsals, followed by a more central push off and finally over the hallux (the sarcopenic obese group presented a greater oscillation in the metatarsals). The stance phase was divided into four distinct phases: initial contact (22.30%), forefoot contact (19.98%), foot flat (13.40%) and forefoot push off (44.32%). Sarcopenic obese spent more time in the forefoot contact phase (relative and absolute) and less time in the initial contact phase (%).
These findings provide a reliable and representative reference dataset for temporal characteristics of foot roll-over during walking of postmenopausal women. Sarcopenic obesity affects significantly the temporal characteristics of foot roll-over during walking in this population. Such findings are of concern to clinicians interested in the promotion of activity to reduce obesity and gain or maintain muscle, since sarcopenic obesity affects normal walking, which might increase injuries.
Maturitas 10/2010; 67(2):178-85. · 2.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a 12-month moderate-to-vigorous exercise program on plantar pressure among postmenopausal women.
A total of 121 white postmenopausal women participated in a randomized controlled trial (60 women in the exercise group and 61 women in the control group). Women in the exercise group attended training sessions of 60 minutes, 3 days per week, on nonconsecutive days. Weight and basal metabolic rate were evaluated by bioimpedance, and height was evaluated with a stadiometer. Plantar pressure data were collected using the Footscan platform and Software 7.1.
After the 1-year intervention, women from the exercise group had (1) lower body mass index, (2) equal basal metabolic rate, (3) lower peak pressures, and (4) lower absolute impulses compared with the women from the control group. Interaction between the exercise group and practice time was found for most of the maximal peak pressure areas (except for metatarsal 4), for all absolute impulse values, and for relative impulses in the hallux, metatarsal 4, midfoot, and medial heel.
This study seems to prove that women who exercise have decreased loading of maximal peak pressures and absolute impulses and, consequently, self-reported pain, soreness, and discomfort in the lower extremity. An interaction effect between group and practice time was found for most of the variables considered, meaning that this 12-month exercise program is effective in the improvement of the biomechanic parameters of plantar pressure.
Menopause (New York, N.Y.) 17(5):1017-25. · 3.08 Impact Factor
