Effects of long-term adapted physical training on functional capacity and quality of life in older adults with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) remains incurable and its prevalence is increasing as the population ages. Although physical activity is considered a therapeutic treatment to slow the progression of the disease, it is considered to be an effective non-pharmacological adjuvant to medication to improve the symptom management.

Methods: The training program was offered for all the participants (N = 50) in three non-consecutive sessions per week for 60 minutes and a total duration of 12 to 16 months.

Effects of Explosive vs. Strength Resistance Training on Plantar Flexor Neuromuscular and Functional Capacities in Institutionalized Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To compare the effects of explosive and strength resistance training on neuromuscular and functional parameters in older adults and to analyze the relationship between changes in walking speed and improvements in plantar flexor (PF) neuromuscular parameters following interventions.

Methods: In total, 40 participants were randomly assigned to either an explosive resistance training group (EXG, n = 18; age = 80.41 ± 10.

Quantifying Active and Passive Stiffness in Plantar Flexor Muscles Following Intermittent Maximal Isometric Contractions Using Shear Wave Elastography.

Objective: This study aimed: (i) to investigate the impact of fatigue, triggered by maximal isometric contraction exercises, on the active and passive stiffness of plantar flexors (PF), and (ii) to examine the relationship between changes in mechanical parameters and neuromuscular alterations after fatigue.

Methods: A healthy cohort (n = 12; age = 27.3 ± 5.

Does Obesity Affect the Rate of Force Development in Plantar Flexor Muscles among Older Adults?

The literature offers limited information on the effect of obesity on the rate of force development (RFD), a critical parameter for mobility in older adults. The objectives of this study were to explore the influence of obesity on the RFD in older adults and to examine the association between this neuromuscular parameter and walking speed. The participants (42 older adults) were classified into two groups: the control group (CG, n = 22; mean age = 81.

The influence of obesity and fat distribution on ankle muscle coactivation during gait.

Background: Excessive body weight is associated with gait alterations. In none of previous studies, body fat distribution has been considered as a factor that could change gait parameters and induce different neuromuscular adaptations.

Objective: This multicenter, analytical, and cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the influence of the body mass distribution on gait parameters and ankle muscle coactivation in obese individuals.

Dataset of Inter and intramuscular variability of stiffness in paretic individuals during prone and standing positions.

Several studies have investigated muscle rigidity using SWE. However, the assessments may not consider the most affected regions within the same muscle tissue nor the intramuscular variability of rigidity between muscles of the same muscle group, e.g.

Quantifying Plantar Flexor Muscles Stiffness During Passive and Active Force Generation Using Shear Wave Elastography in Individuals With Chronic Stroke.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the mechanical properties of paretic and healthy plantar flexor muscles and assesses the spatial distribution of stiffness between the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and lateralis (GL) during active force generation.

Methods: Shear wave elastography measurements were conducted on a control group (CNT, n=14; age=59.9±10.

Influence of Concurrent Exercise Training on Ankle Muscle Activation during Static and Proactive Postural Control on Older Adults with Sarcopenic Obesity: A Multicenter, Randomized, and Controlled Trial.

Sarcopenic obesity (SO), characterized by age-related muscle loss and excess body fat, significantly impairs postural control. However, limited research has explored the effects of concurrent exercise training on neuromuscular strategies during postural control in older adults with SO. The study enrolled 50 older adults with SO, split into an intervention group (IG, = 25, mean age = 76.

The impact of obesity on static and proactive balance and gait patterns in sarcopenic older adults: an analytical cross-sectional investigation.

Background: Obesity is increasingly recognized as a significant factor in the susceptibility of older adults to falls and related injuries. While existing literature has established a connection between obesity and reduced postural stability during stationary stances, the direct implications of obesity on walking dynamics, particularly among the older adults with sarcopenia, are not yet comprehensively understood.

Objective: Firstly, to investigate the influence of obesity on steady-state and proactive balance, as well as gait characteristics, among older adults with sarcopenic obesity (SO); and secondly, to unearth correlations between anthropometric characteristics and balance and gait parameters in the same demographic.

Spatial distribution of stiffness between and within muscles in paretic and healthy individuals during prone and standing positions.

This study investigated the inter- and intramuscular variability of plantar flexors stiffness during prone and standing positions at different muscle lengths in healthy and paretic individuals. To access tissue stiffness, shear wave elastography (SWE) measurements were carried out on two groups: control group (CG; n=14; age 43.9±9.

Effects of Physical Activity Program on Body Composition, Physical Performance, and Neuromuscular Strategies during Walking in Older Adults with Sarcopenic Obesity: Randomized Controlled Trial.

The potential impact of a specific physical activity program on biomechanical gait parameters and neuromuscular strategies around the ankle joint in older adults with sarcopenic obesity (SO) remains largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a 24-week posture, strengthening, and motricity (PSM) program on improving neuromuscular strategies and biomechanical gait parameters in older adults with SO. 40 participants were randomly assigned to either the trained group (TG) and the control group (CG).

Coactivation pattern in leg muscles during treadmill walking in patients suffering from intermittent claudication.

Background: In patients with peripheral arterial disease and presenting intermittent claudication (PAD-IC), the pain due to ischemia impacts gait parameters, particularly in cases of unilateral disease. Deterioration of gait parameters in a pathological context is frequently associated with increased coactivation (simultaneous activation of agonist and antagonist muscles around a joint).

Research Question: Does unilateral PAD-IC affect the coactivation pattern during walking? Does the coactivation pattern change with increasing pain intensity?

Method: We evaluated symptomatic and asymptomatic legs in 17 subjects with unilateral PAD-IC and 16 without PAD-IC (control group), during walking.

Rearfoot-forefoot profile defined by vertical ground reaction forces during gait is altered in patients with unilateral intermittent claudication.

Intermittent Claudication due to Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD-IC) induces ischemic pain in exercising muscles, and therefore impaired gait. In a pathological context, the analysis of the Vertical component of Ground Reaction Force (VGRF) is frequently used to describe gait pattern. This paper aims to define gait profiles according to the relative difference between peaks of VGRF; a Rearfoot and a Forefoot profile revealing a more loading or push-off strategy.

Differences in lower extremity muscular coactivation during postural control between healthy and obese adults.

Introduction: It is well established that obesity is associated with deterioration in postural control that may reduce obese adults' autonomy and increase risks of falls. However, neuromuscular mechanisms through which postural control alterations occur in obese adults remain unclear.

Objective: To investigate the effects of obesity on muscle coactivation at the ankle joint during static and dynamic postural control.

Interactions among obesity and age-related effects on the gait pattern and muscle activity across the ankle joint.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to investigate the combined effects of age and obesity on gait and to analyze the relationship between age and obesity on ankle muscle activities during walking.

Materials And Methods: 4 groups; the young non-obese control group (CG, n = 50, age = 31.8 ± 4.

Relationships between lower limbs fatigability threshold and postural control in obese adults.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of obesity on markers of neuromuscular fatigability of ankle muscles and their potential relationships with postural control capacities. Two groups: non-obese control group (CG; n = 15; age = 40.1 ± 13.

Influence of Obesity and Impact of a Physical Activity Program on Postural Control and Functional and Physical Capacities in Institutionalized Older Adults: A Pilot Study.

Objective: To evaluate the role of obesity in the effects of physical activity (PA) on postural control and functional and physical capacities in the older adults and to assess the effectiveness of a PA program on these capacities.

Methods: Six obese (age = 78.8 [3.

Combined effects of aging and obesity on postural control, muscle activity and maximal voluntary force of muscles mobilizing ankle joint.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of age and/or obesity on postural control, ankle muscle activities during balance testing and force production capacities.

Materials And Methods: 4 groups; control group (CG; n = 25; age = 31.8 ± 7.