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Updated: Jun 15, 2026

A Training Program Using an Agility Ladder for Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Published on: March 7, 2020
Positive effects of physical training in activity of daily living-dependent older adults
Massimo Venturelli1, Massimo Lanza, Ettore Muti
1Department of Neurological and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Verona, Via F. Casorati 43, Verona, Italy. massimo.venturelli@univr.it
Abstract:
The goal of this study was to determinate the effects of physical training in older adults with mobility limitations. Thirty frail women (84 +/- 6 years) were randomly assigned to a training or control group for 12 weeks of upper body physical training (UBT) performed sitting on wheelchairs. Trained subjects showed a significant improvement in arms strength (+29%), and shoulder flexibility (+10 cm) but did not improve in arms circumference. The activities of daily living (ADLs) were improved (+77%), cognitive function as defined by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was maintained in the trained group (+3%) and declined in the control group (-21%). These results demonstrate that UBT in dependent older women with mobility limitations can increase strength and improve ADLs.
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