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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Dec 31;20(1):762.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20010762.

Bridging the Gap between Research and the Community: Implementing Physical and Cognitive Interventions to Improve Spontaneous Walking Speed in Older Adults

Kristell Pothier  1   2 , Navin Kaushal  3 , Tudor Vrinceanu  2   4   5 , Maxime Lussier  5 , Nathalie Bailly  1 , Francis Comte  2 , Thien Tuong Minh Vu  5   6 , Nicolas Berryman  2   7 , Louis Bherer  2   4   5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Bridging the Gap between Research and the Community: Implementing Physical and Cognitive Interventions to Improve Spontaneous Walking Speed in Older Adults

Kristell Pothier et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The application of interventions to enhance mobility in ecological settings remain understudied. This study was developed to evaluate the feasibility of training methods in a community centre and to evaluate their impact on mobility outcomes. Fifty-four participants were randomized to one of three 12-week training programs (three times/week): aerobic (AE), gross motor abilities (GMA) or cognitive (COG). Feasibility was evaluated by calculating adherence, feedback from participants and long-term participation. The impact of these interventions on mobility was assessed by comparing pre- and post-program on Timed-up-and-go (TUG) and spontaneous walking speed (SWS) performances. Results showed relatively high rates of adherence (85.1%) and long-term participation (66.7%), along with favorable feedbacks. SWS significantly improved in COG (0.10 ± 0.11 m.s-1; p = 0.004) and AE (0.06 ± 0.11 m.s-1; p = 0.017) groups, and TUG performance was maintained in all groups. Results of this feasibility study demonstrated successful implementation of physical and cognitive training programs, encouraging the development of real-world applications.

Keywords: cognitive training; community centre; feasibility study; physical interventions; walking speed.

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Conflict of interest statement

Navin Kaushal declares a conflict of interest, being a guest editor in IJERPH, Special Issue “Environment and Behavior”. The other Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. The funding agency and companies involved in this study (Les Centres d’Activités Physiques Rivière-Du-Nord [CAPRDN] and Le Quartier 50+ de la Ville de Saint-Jérôme) had no role in the design of this study, in the analyses and interpretation of the data or in the decision to submit results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Randomization process of the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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