J Korean Acad Nurs.  2013 Aug;43(4):536-546. 10.4040/jkan.2013.43.4.536.

A Meta-analysis of the Effect of Walking Exercise on Lower Limb Muscle Endurance, Whole Body Endurance and Upper Body Flexibility in Elders

• Roh KH
• Park HA

• KMID: 1707155
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2013.43.4.536

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether walking exercise improved physical function in elderly people using meta-analysis.
METHODS
Medical and nursing literature databases were searched to identify the studies on the effectiveness of walking exercise on physical function. In the databases, there were 16 articles reporting 21 interventions. Overall effect sizes for three outcome variables, elders' physical function in lower limb muscle endurance, whole body endurance and upper body flexibility, were calculated. Effects of study characteristics on outcome variables were analyzed.
RESULTS
The meta-analysis showed that walking exercise generally had positive effects on CST (chair stand test), 6MW (6 min walking), and SRT (standing or sitting reach test) with overall weighted effect sizes of 1.06, 0.41 and 0.29 respectively. This study also showed that the chronic disease status of the elders, intervention methods, and type of residence had different effects on CST, 6MW and SRT.
CONCLUSION
The results indicate that walking exercise improves physical function in elders. Walking exercise which can be done at any time and any location is indeed a very effective exercise for elderly people.

Keyword

Walking; Exercise; Aged; Meta-analysis

MeSH Terms

Aged
Databases, Factual
Humans
Lower Extremity
*Muscle Strength
Muscle, Skeletal/physiology
Program Evaluation
Range of Motion, Articular
*Walking

Figure

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  Figure 1 Selection process for the final sample studies from all studies accessed.

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