Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a 10-week supervised hip flexor stretching
program in healthy elderly subjects would increase peak hip extension, stride
length and gait speed and reduce anterior pelvic tilt during walking. DESIGN: A
double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Pre- and posttreatment
assessments were performed in a gait laboratory, whereas stretching exercises
were performed outside of the laboratory, usually in the subject's home.
PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-two healthy elderly individuals, with 39 subjects in the
control group and 43 subjects in the treatment group. INTERVENTION: The treatment
group completed a 10-week, twice-daily hip flexor stretching program, which was
supervised twice weekly by a rehabilitation clinician. The control group
completed a 10-week shoulder abductor stretching program. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASUREMENTS: Passive hip extension range of motion, dynamic peak hip extension,
peak anterior pelvic tilt, stride length, and gait speed during walking. RESULTS:
The treatment group showed significant improvements in passive hip extension
range of motion (P = .007). Subjects in the treatment group who presented with
limited preassessment peak hip extension during walking had increased stride
length (P = .019) and peak hip extension (P = .012), and decreased anterior
pelvic tilt (P = .006) during walking, whereas subjects in the control group
showed only decreased anterior pelvic tilt (P = .013). CONCLUSIONS: The 10-week
supervised hip flexor stretching program was effective in increasing stride
length and peak hip extension during walking in elderly adults who had limited
preintervention hip extension during walking. These results support the use of a
simple stretching program for elderly individuals in counteracting age-related
decline in gait function.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS