Strength Training for Gait Rehabilitation in Older Adults Insights From Neuroscience

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how different focus of attention strategies during strength training affect plantar flexor muscle force and walking patterns in healthy older adults. The study aims to understand both the immediate impact and the training effects of these focus strategies on muscle force variability, gait variability, and related brain mechanisms. Young adults are also assessed to compare focus effects across age groups. Participants will engage in a four-week strength training program performing seated calf raises under three different focus conditions internal focus, proprioceptive external focus, and visual external focus. Training occurs three times per week with sessions consisting of three sets until muscle failure at 75 of their maximum load, with two-minute rests between sets. Each focus condition involves specific instructions to guide participants attention during exercises. During the study, participants will be assessed weekly and at follow-up for changes in muscle force variability, gait variability, and brain excitability and inhibition using neurophysiological measures. Additional evaluations include muscle co-contraction, range of motion during gait, and toe clearance. The study includes supervised training sessions and detailed monitoring over six weeks to track progress and response to the training interventions.

The Effect of Different Focus of Attention Instructions on Resistance Training and Its Transfer to Gait Parameters in Older Adults