Biomechanical Effects of the MIND&GAIT Exercise Program on Sit-to-Stand and Marching in Place Motor Coordination in Institutionalized Older Adults: Implications for Functional Stability

TL;DR

The MIND&GAIT exercise program may improve movement coordination and stability in older adults, potentially reducing fall risk.

Contribution

The study explores how the MIND&GAIT program affects motor coordination in older adults using non-linear biomechanical metrics.

Findings

Positive trends in motor variability and unpredictability were observed during sit-to-stand and marching-in-place tasks.

Improvements in adaptive motor coordination were noted, particularly during marching-in-place, with more flexible movement patterns.

Biomechanical trends suggest enhanced functional stability and adaptability, which are important for fall prevention.

Abstract

What are the main findings?
The MIND&GAIT program generated positive trends in motor variability and unpredictability in sit-to-stand and marching-in-place tasks, despite no statistically significant changes.Results suggest improvements in adaptive motor coordination, particularly during the marching-in-place task, with shifts toward more flexible and divergent movement patterns.

The MIND&GAIT program generated positive trends in motor variability and unpredictability in sit-to-stand and marching-in-place tasks, despite no statistically significant changes.

Results suggest improvements in adaptive motor coordination, particularly during the marching-in-place task, with shifts toward more flexible and divergent movement patterns.

What are the implications of the main findings?
These biomechanical trends suggest that MIND&GAIT may enhance functional stability and adaptability to perturbations, mechanisms essential to fall prevention.These exploratory results support the inclusion of structured exercise programs like MIND&GAIT as a valuable strategy for reducing fall vulnerability in institutionalized older adults.

These biomechanical trends suggest that MIND&GAIT may enhance functional stability and adaptability to perturbations, mechanisms essential to fall prevention.

These exploratory results support the inclusion of structured exercise programs like MIND&GAIT as a valuable strategy for reducing fall vulnerability in institutionalized older adults.

Background: Motor decline associated with ageing compromises mobility, postural control and the ability, thereby increasing risk among older adults. Biomechanical characterization of movement, particularly using non-linear methods, offers a process-oriented approach capable of detecting subtle changes in motor coordination. The MIND&GAIT programme has previously demonstrated benefits in physical function in frail older individuals; however, its potential to improve motor coordination parameters that underpin fall risk remains insufficiently explored. Objectives: To analyse the impact of the MIND&GAIT program on motor coordination during sit-to-stand (STS) and walking tasks, two daily activities strongly associated with fall risk, using advanced non-linear and biomechanical metrics in institutionalized older adults. Methods: Fourteen institutionalized older adults (82.21 ± 7.14 years) participated. Three-dimensional acceleration and angular velocity were recorded using inertial sensors. Motor variability and predictability were quantified using the multivariate Lyapunov exponent (LyEM) and multivariate incremental entropy (MIE). STS (30 s) and walking-in-place (2 min) tasks were assessed pre- and post-intervention following a three-month, thrice-weekly programme. Results: Although no statistically significant differences emerged (ps > 0.05), trends were observed suggesting increases in LyEM during STS and in both MIE and LyEM during walking were found post-intervention. These exploratory findings may indicate enhanced motor complexity, stability and adaptability, features associated with reduced fall vulnerability. Conclusions: Despite the absence of statistical significance, the biomechanical trends observed suggest improvements in motor coordination patterns relevant to fall risk reduction in institutionalized older adults following the MIND&GAIT programme. These findings highlight the potential of structured exercise-based interventions for promoting safer movement behaviors in frail populations.