Effects of walking on reaction and movement times among elders

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 6-wk. walking program on reaction times and movement times among 52 elders. Twenty-seven elderly, whose mean age was 71.8 yr. comprised the experimental group, and 25 elderly whose mean age was 71.8 yr. comprised the comparison group. The former subjects walked for 30 min. three times a week for 6 wk. while the latter maintained their normal activity. No significant differences in simple or choice reaction times and the associated movement times were found. To clarify the relationship of health and current and past physical activity, correlations of these with both simple and choice reaction times and movement times were examined. Except for the number of miles walked in a week, none of the correlations were significant. These results may not support previous findings that reaction and movement times were shorter with life-long participation in aerobic activity. However, the present study examined persons who were sedentary and were not involved in a life-long participation in aerobic exercise. Implications of these findings are discussed.