Journal List > J Korean Acad Nurs > v.43(4) > 1002937

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

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.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Selection process for the final sample studies from all studies accessed.
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Table 1
A List of Articles Used in the Meta-Analysis
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DM=Diabetes mellitus; IFG=Impaired fasting glucose; AD=Alzheimer's disease; Wks=Weeks; CST=Chair stand test; 6MW=6 min walking; SRT=Standing or sitting reach test.

Table 2
Effect Size of CST, 6MT, and SRT by Individual Study
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*Rolland (2007) was removed for further analysis because it had missing values. d (SE)=Effect size (Standard error); RCT=Randomized controlled trial; NRCT=Non-randomized controlled trial. Rolland (2007), Kim, S. (2009), and Venturelli (2011) are random controlled trials, and the remaining 13 are non-random controlled trials.

Table 3
Weighted Effect Size of CST, 6MT and SRT: Fixed-effect Model
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Study 3,5,6,and 11 were removed for CST; 3,5,6, and 21 were removed for 6MW; 19 was removed for SRT. *Number of the effect size; Mean effect size weighted by the inverse of their effects variance; 95% confidence interval; §Binomial effect size display; Total effect size (p); Homogeneity statistics; #Fail-safe number.

Table 4
Comparison of Weighted Effect Sizes of CST, 6MW and SRT by Study Characteristics: Fixed-effect Model
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