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A Training Program Using an Agility Ladder for Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Published on: March 7, 2020
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A Training Program Using an Agility Ladder for Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
Vivian Castillo de Lima1, Luz Albany Arcila Castaño1, Vanessa Vilas Boas2
1Applied Kinesiology Laboratory, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas, UNICAMP.
Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|March 24, 2020
Summary
Agility ladder training improved physical function in older adults. This 14-week program, with two 30-minute sessions weekly, enhanced agility and balance in community-dwelling seniors.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Exercise Physiology
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Aging is associated with declines in physical and cognitive functions, impacting daily life.
- Agility training offers a potential intervention to improve or maintain physical functioning in older populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the physical fitness benefits of an agility ladder training program for independent, community-dwelling older adults.
Main Methods:
- A 14-week program with two 30-minute sessions per week.
- Participants (n=16, mean age 66.9±5.0 years) performed timed agility drills with four difficulty levels.
- Functional assessments included Illinois agility, five times sit-to-stand, timed up-and-go, usual walking speed, and one-leg stand tests, conducted pre- and post-training.
Main Results:
- The agility ladder training program demonstrated improvements in physical function.
- While no control group was used, results suggest positive outcomes from the intervention.
Conclusions:
- Agility ladder training is a practical and accessible method for enhancing physical function in older adults.
- The program effectively improved performance in key functional tests relevant to daily living.
