Centre for Policy on Ageing



Brisk walking and postural stability — a cross-sectional study in postmenopausal women
Author(s)	K Brooke-Wavell, L E Athersmith, P R M Jones
Journal title	Gerontology, vol 44, no 5, September-October 1998
Pages	pp 288-292
Keywords	Mobility ; Ambulant ; Exercise ; Menopause ; Cross sectional surveys.
Annotation	The relationship between body sway and physical activity duration in 31 postmenopausal women was examined. They were recruited from a randomised controlled study of the influence of brisk walking on bone: 16 women completing 20 minutes per day brisk walking, whilst 15 controls had completed habitual activities only. Body sway was measured using a swaymeter that measured displacement at the waist whilst subjects stood on a compliant surface, with eyes closed, for 1 minute. Body sway was lower in walkers than controls, and significantly lower in the most active group than the least active, suggesting that postural stability is better in regular walkers that in control subjects. A dose-response relationship was observed between physical activity and postural stability in postmenopausal women. These findings provide a preliminary indication that brisk walking, a low-cost and acceptable form of physical activity for older people, could be incorporated into strategies for improving their balance. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-990120241 A
Classmark	C4: C4A: CEA: CC:BD: 3KB
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.