Efeito do treino de resistência muscular progressivo na melhora da velocidade da marcha de idosos residentes da comunidade: uma revisão da literatura

Abstract

Introduction: Demographic projections indicate that between the years 2000 and 2050 the world population over 60 years old will increase by 22%, which means an absolute increase of 605 million to more than 2 billion. Muscle weakness of the lower limbs, is associated with reduced gait speed and falls in older people. Objective: Perform a literature review of the effect of progressive muscle resistance training in improving gait speed of elderly residents in the community. Methods: Searches wereperformed in the following electronic databases: PEDro, MEDLINE (PubMed) and LILACS, in order to identify studies that investigated the effects of progressive muscle resistance training in gait speed of elderly residents in the community. Inclusion criteria were randomized or controlled clinical trials investigating the progressive muscle resistance training in individuals with 60 years or older living in the community and presented as an outcome measure gait speed. Review and research articles involving participants with orthopedic or neuromuscular diseasesthat could influence the gait speed were excluded. Results: Among the 247 articles found, 5 met al.l the inclusion criteria. Most studies reported a significant improvement in gait speed of the elderly after progressive resistance training. However, studies presented methodological heterogeneity. Conclusion: Progressive muscle resistance training is effective in improving gait speed of elderly community residents and its effect can be maintained for at least six months