Impact of Dry, Wet & Combination Endurance Training on Selected Biomechanical Variables At The Voluntary Gait In Men Aged 60-75

Considering that in old age, the potential for musculoskeletal abnormalities and consequently changes in biomechanical function is probable, utilizing appropriate exercise programs with a prevention approach toward reducing the negative consequences of these changes is a concern for sports rehabilitation and occupational therapy specialists. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dry, wet, and a combination of endurance training on selected biomechanical variables at the voluntary gait in men aged 60-75 years.

In this semi-experimental study, 60 elderly aged 60-75 years participated voluntarily and were randomly assigned to three groups of dry, wet, and a combination of endurance training. All three training protocols were performed weekly (three sessions per week) for eight weeks. A dependent t-test was used to compare pre-test and post-test and the analysis of covariance was utilized to compare the effect of three types of exercises on dependent variables.

The results of the present study showed that performing endurance exercises on dry, water and combination significantly increases the normalized stride length, displacement of the body mass center in the anterior-posterior and vertical axes, range of motion of the hip, knee and peak dorsiflexion of the ankle joints and the first normalized peak of Fz (vertical ground reaction force) during voluntary walking (P<0.05). Also, different types of endurance exercises had different effects on the variable of peak plantarflexion of the ankle joint (P<0.05) (between dry and combined exercises with P=0.007); but no significant difference was observed in the effect of various endurance trainings on other kinematic and kinetic variables during of voluntary walking (P>0.05).

Although it seems that using endurance training on dry, water and combination can have positive effects on the biomechanical variables of elderly during walking; due to more effect, combined endurance protocol can be recommended for the elderly to improve balance and gait performance and safe and secure movement. Future studies are necessary to more precisely examine differences among various types of endurance training methods.