Locomotion training addition to regular aerobic exercise improves walking speed and two-step test of the institutionalized older adult with Locomotive Syndrome stage 1: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Most nursing homes in Indonesia use only aerobic exercise as regular exercise for their resident. Locomotion Training is a combination of lower extremity strengthening and balance exercises. This study aims to determine the effects of the addition of locomotion training to regular aerobic exercise on Walking Speed (WS) and Two Step Test (TST) of institutionalized older adults with the locomotive syndrome (LS) stage 1. Methods: 24 older adults with locomotive syndrome stage 1 (mean age, 73.85 years) participated in the study and were randomly allocated to the Locomotion Training addition group (LTG) and control group (CG). Eight weeks of daily group-based aerobic exercise were conducted for 30 minutes for both groups. The LTG performed additional locomotion training 3 times per week, with a progressive increase of set and repetition at each activity according to the participant’s tolerance. The measurement of WS and TST was collected at baseline and 3 days after the intervention was completed for each participant. Results: Twenty participants completed the study, ten from CG and ten from LTG. The results showed a significant statistical difference in WS and TST in LTG (p <0.05) but no improvement in the CG (p >0.05) after 8 weeks of intervention. Conclusion: In addition to regular aerobic exercise, Locomotion Training can improve WS and TST in the institutionalized older adult with locomotive syndrome stage 1.