title: Effects of Power Training on Mobility and Gait Biomechanics in Old Adults with Moderate Mobility Disability: Protocol and Design of the Potsdam Gait Study (POGS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Walking speed decreases in old age. Even though old adults regularly participate in exercise interventions, we do not know how the intervention-induced changes in physical abilities produce faster walking. The Potsdam Gait Study (POGS) will examine the effects of 10 weeks of power training and detraining on leg muscle power and, for the first time, on complete gait biomechanics, including joint kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activation in old adults with moderate mobility disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  POGS is a randomized controlled trial with two arms, each crossed over, without blinding. Arm 1 starts with a 10-week control period to assess the reliability of the tests and is then crossed over to complete 25-30 training sessions over 10 weeks. Arm 2 completes 25-30 exercise sessions over 10 weeks, followed by a 10-week follow-up (detraining) period. The exercise program is designed to improve lower extremity muscle power. Main outcome measures are: muscle power, gait speed, and gait biomechanics measured at baseline and after 10 weeks of training and 10 weeks of detraining.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is expected that power training will increase leg muscle power measured by the weight lifted and by dynamometry, and these increased abilities become expressed in joint powers measured during gait. Such favorably modified powers will underlie the increase in step length, leading ultimately to a faster walking speed. POGS will increase our basic understanding of the biomechanical mechanisms of how power training improves gait speed in old adults with moderate levels of mobility disabilities.
authors.affiliation: Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Chantal M I
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Beijersbergen
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hortobágyi
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beurskens
authors.forename: Romana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lenzen-Grossimlinghaus
authors.forename: Martijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gäbler
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Granacher
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055070:Resistance Training; D019415:Torque; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D000072797:Walking Speed / Q000502:physiology