ORIGINAL ARTICLE  EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINICAL MEDICINE 

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2022 May;62(5):705-9

DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.12254-6

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Metabolic and cardiovascular effects of body weight supported treadmill walking in healthy older adults

Robert S. VAN ZANT ¹ ✉, Wick R. COLCHAGOFF ², Anya M. COX ², Benjamin R. EGGLESTON ², Andrea D. GRIFFITH ², Linda M. HARRISON ², Amie S. NEWBERRY ², Blake L. PRICE ²

¹ Hanover College, Department of Physical Therapy, Hanover, IN, USA; ² Department of Physical Therapy, University of Findlay, Findlay, OH, USA

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine if body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) decreased metabolic and cardiovascular demand in older (50-74 years) healthy adults while walking a self-selected speed. The results of this study could impact clinician application to exercise therapy.
METHODS: Twenty subjects (50% female, 58.3±7.3 years) completed 3, 5-minute treadmill walking trials at a self-selected pace, with 0%, 15%, and 30% body weight support (BWS). Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and oxygen uptake (V̇O2) were measured at rest, and during walking trials. Mean data from minutes 3-5 were analyzed for difference by repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc test.
RESULTS: At rest, HR was 70.8±8.2 bpm and BP was 126.8±12.2/84.3±8.6 mmHg. Mean walking speed was 67.1 m/min. Tested parameters during exercise trials were significantly (P<0.05) different from rest, but no significant differences were detected among the 3 exercise trials.
CONCLUSIONS: In older adults walking at self-selected speeds, up to 30% BWS had no significant impact on metabolic or cardiovascular demand.

KEY WORDS: Body weight; Education; Sports; Exercise