title: Effect of a supervised hip flexor stretching program on gait in elderly individuals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a 10-week supervised hip flexor stretching program in healthy elderly subjects would increase peak hip extension, stride length and gait speed and reduce anterior pelvic tilt during walking.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre- and posttreatment assessments were performed in a gait laboratory, whereas stretching exercises were performed outside of the laboratory, usually in the subject's home.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two healthy elderly individuals, with 39 subjects in the control group and 43 subjects in the treatment group.
  
  
  METHODS
  The treatment group completed a 10-week, twice-daily hip flexor stretching program, which was supervised twice weekly by a rehabilitation clinician. The control group completed a 10-week shoulder abductor stretching program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Passive hip extension range of motion, dynamic peak hip extension, peak anterior pelvic tilt, stride length, and gait speed during walking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment group showed significant improvements in passive hip extension range of motion (P = .007). Subjects in the treatment group who presented with limited preassessment peak hip extension during walking had increased stride length (P = .019) and peak hip extension (P = .012), and decreased anterior pelvic tilt (P = .006) during walking, whereas subjects in the control group showed only decreased anterior pelvic tilt (P = .013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 10-week supervised hip flexor stretching program was effective in increasing stride length and peak hip extension during walking in elderly adults who had limited preintervention hip extension during walking. These results support the use of a simple stretching program for elderly individuals in counteracting age-related decline in gait function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Jaclyn R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Jason R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Franz
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dicharry
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: D Casey
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kerrigan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003286:Contracture / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006615:Hip / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*