title: Effect of ecological walking training in sedentary elderly people: act on aging study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate the effects of a walking program on aerobic endurance and function in a sample of sedentary elderly people.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this study, 126 sedentary individuals were recruited: 63 individuals (mean age = 74.1±6.0 years) for the control group and 63 (mean age = 72.0±4.5 years) for the intervention group. The intervention consisted of walking training including balance exercises and lower limb strength activities twice a week for 4 months. We collected baseline and post-test measurements of aerobic endurance, lower limb strength, and mobility. We also measured aerobic endurance at increments of 4, 8, and 12 weeks between the baseline and the post-test. We used analyses of covariance with baseline value, gender, age, and body mass index scores as covariates (p < . 05) and calculated the effect size for the effects of the intervention. The changeover time of aerobic endurance was also analyzed with the repeated analysis of variance (p < .05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention group showed steady and significant improvements with respect to the 6-min walk (aerobic endurance) from 447.89 m (SD 73.87) to 561.51 m (SD 83.96), as well as the 30-s chair stand (lower limb strength) from 10 (SD 3) to 13 (SD 3) number of times and the Timed Up and Go Test (mobility) from 8.53 s (SD 2.86) to 7.13 s (SD 1.76) at the post-test, whereas the control group showed significant decrease in all measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results underline that an ecological walking training program can be used to improve physical functioning among sedentary elderly people.
authors.affiliation: Motor Science Research Center, University School of Motor and Sport Science (SUISM), University of Torino, Italy. danielemagistro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Magistro
authors.affiliation: Motor Science Research Center, University School of Motor and Sport Science (SUISM), University of Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica Emma
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Liubicich
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Candela
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ciairano
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D004856:Postural Balance; D016138:Walking
keywords: Intervention; Physical activity