Effects of modular course training on mobility in older adults aged 79-90 years

To determine the effectiveness of an intervention programme utilizing modules specifically designed to challenge mobility in older adults.

Twelve older adults aged 79-90 years (84.3+/-3.2; mean+/-SD) living in a retirement community participated in a 10-week (3 sessions per week, 50 minutes per session) training programme. Performance on a modular course, comprised of nine stations representing common environmental conditions, provided information about dynamic balance and mobility before and after the intervention programme. Stations consisted of walking across carpet and foam pathways, walking up and down ramps and stairs, walking through a slalom course of eight plastic cones, and stepping over foam props. Performance on the mobility course was videotaped to determine the time to complete each station. The training intervention consisted of performing sections of the mobility course and standing on foam pads with the eyes open or closed.

Using the Bonferroni-adjusted level of significance for multiple comparisons (p+/-0.005), paired sample t-tests indicated significant improvement for total time to complete the course (pre=100.9+/-40.5 s, post=79.6+/-40.3 s) and for all individual stations except stepping over props.

These results indicate that an intervention programme utilizing functionally-oriented modules can improve mobility in older adults.