Premium
Effect of a Supervised Hip Flexor Stretching Program on Gait in Elderly Individuals
Author(s) -
Watt Jaclyn R.,
Jackson Keith,
Franz Jason R.,
Dicharry Jay,
Evans Jonathan,
Kerrigan D. Casey
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
pmandr
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.617
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1934-1563
pISSN - 1934-1482
DOI - 10.1016/j.pmrj.2010.11.012
Subject(s) - medicine , pelvic tilt , gait , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , stride , range of motion , preferred walking speed , hip flexion , rehabilitation , pelvis , surgery
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.