Walk with Me Hybrid Virtual/In-Person Walking for Older Adults with Neurodegenerative Disease.

This study presents a protocol for virtual and in-person walking groups for older adults with neurodegenerative diseases and addresses the decline in physical activity and social connectivity during the pandemic. Physical activity, specifically moderate-intensity walking, has been shown to have multiple health benefits for older adults. This methodology was created during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to lower physical activity levels and social isolation in older adults. Both the in-person and virtual classes utilize technology such as fitness tracking apps and video platforms. Data are presented from two groups of older adults with neurodegenerative disease: people with prodromal Alzheimer's disease and people with Parkinson's disease. Participants in the virtual classes were screened for balance impairments before the walk, and any person deemed at risk for falls was not eligible to participate virtually. As COVID vaccines became available and restrictions were lifted, in-person walking groups became feasible. Staff and caregivers were trained in balance management, roles/responsibilities, and delivering walking cues. Both walks, virtual and in-person, consisted of a warm up, a walk, and a cool down, and posture, gait, and safety cues were given throughout. Measures of the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and heart rate (HR) were taken pre-warm up, post-warm up, and at 15 min, 30 min, and 45 min time points. Participants also used a walking application (app) on their phones to record the distance walked and the number of steps taken. The study showed a positive correlation between HR and RPE in both groups. The participants in the virtual group rated the walking group favorably in terms of improving their quality of life during a period of social isolation and contributing to physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The methodology shows a safe and feasible way to implement virtual and in-person walking groups for older adults with neurological diseases.

The Triple Step in Recreational Swing Dancers: A Kinematic Analysis.

Swing dancing is gaining popularity, yet our biomechanical understanding of swing dance remains poor, creating barriers to the development of training protocols and evaluation of performances. This study aimed to determine whether dancing with or without a partner affects the lower extremity kinematics of the triple step, and if the kinematics differ among the three steps of the dance element. Eight recreational swing dancers completed three sets of rightward triple steps with and without a partner. The angles in the sagittal, frontal and transverse planes were determined for bilateral lower limb joints and pelvis based on the kinematics collected by a motion capture system. Results illustrated that dancing with a partner has a significant effect on the angular kinematics of the lower extremity and pelvis. Dancers showed more restricted motion at the knee and hip in the sagittal and frontal planes when dancing with a partner. Additionally, differences were observed among the steps with most differences occurring between steps one and two and steps two and three in all three planes. These findings expand our knowledge of swing dancing biomechanics, possibly informing the design of future studies that will further expand our understanding of swing dancing.

Effect of downhill running grade on lower extremity loading in female distance runners.

Hill running is often used as a foundational training mechanism to build strength and speed. Distance runners in particular are at an increased likelihood of encountering steep hills during training runs. There is limited research regarding downhill running, and there is no research available on the biomechanics of females specifically during downhill running. The purpose of this study was to quantify the differences in loading when running downhill at different grades compared to a level surface in female distance runners to determine the potential risk for injury. Fifteen female distance runners (age: 23.5 ± 4.9 y), who ran 56.3 ± 20.9 km a week participated in this study. Participants ran on a force-instrumented treadmill at 4.0 m/s for 2 min at 0%, -5%, -10%, -15%, and -20% grades, with 5 min of rest between conditions. Study findings showed increased impact forces (p < 0.001), and increased loading rates (p < 0.001) with increasing downhill grades compared to level. These results indicate a significantly greater risk of overuse injury to the lower extremity with steeper downhill grades. Individuals need to be aware of these risks to plan and implement training programmes that will increase performance while minimising injury risk.