@article{BeijersbergenHortobagyiBeurskensetal.2016,
  author    = {Beijersbergen, Chantal M. I. and Hortobagyi, Tibor and Beurskens, Rainer and Lenzen-Grossimlinghaus, Romana and Gabler, Martijn and Granacher, Urs},
  title     = {Effects of Power Training on Mobility and Gait Biomechanics in Old Adults with Moderate Mobility Disability: Protocol and Design of the Potsdam Gait Study (POGS)},
  series = {Gerontology},
  volume    = {62},
  journal   = {Gerontology},
  publisher = {Karger},
  address   = {Basel},
  issn      = {0304-324X},
  doi       = {10.1159/000444752},
  pages     = {597 -- 603},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {Background: Walking speed decreases in old age. Even though old adults regularly participate in exercise interventions, we do not know how the intervention-induced changes in physical abilities produce faster walking. The Potsdam Gait Study (POGS) will examine the effects of 10 weeks of power training and detraining on leg muscle power and, for the first time, on complete gait biomechanics, including joint kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activation in old adults with moderate mobility disability. Methods/Design: POGS is a randomized controlled trial with two arms, each crossed over, without blinding. Arm 1 starts with a 10-week control period to assess the reliability of the tests and is then crossed over to complete 25-30 training sessions over 10 weeks. Arm 2 completes 25-30 exercise sessions over 10 weeks, followed by a 10-week follow-up (detraining) period. The exercise program is designed to improve lower extremity muscle power. Main outcome measures are: muscle power, gait speed, and gait biomechanics measured at baseline and after 10 weeks of training and 10 weeks of detraining. Discussion: It is expected that power training will increase leg muscle power measured by the weight lifted and by dynamometry, and these increased abilities become expressed in joint powers measured during gait. Such favorably modified powers will underlie the increase in step length, leading ultimately to a faster walking speed. POGS will increase our basic understanding of the biomechanical mechanisms of how power training improves gait speed in old adults with moderate levels of mobility disabilities. (C) 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{BeijersbergenGranacherVandervoortetal.2013,
  author    = {Beijersbergen, Chantal M. I. and Granacher, Urs and Vandervoort, A. A. and DeVita, P. and Hortobagyi, Tibor},
  title     = {The biomechanical mechanism of how strength and power training improves walking speed in old adults remains unknown},
  series = {Ageing research reviews : ARR},
  volume    = {12},
  journal   = {Ageing research reviews : ARR},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Clare},
  issn      = {1568-1637},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.arr.2013.03.001},
  pages     = {618 -- 627},
  year      = {2013},
  abstract  = {Maintaining and increasing walking speed in old age is clinically important because this activity of daily living predicts functional and clinical state. We reviewed evidence for the biomechanical mechanisms of how strength and power training increase gait speed in old adults. A systematic search yielded only four studies that reported changes in selected gait biomechanical variables after an intervention. A secondary analysis of 20 studies revealed an association of r(2) = 0.21 between the 22\% and 12\% increase, respectively, in quadriceps strength and gait velocity in 815 individuals age 72. In 6 studies, there was a correlation of r(2) = 0.16 between the 19\% and 9\% gains in plantarflexion strength and gait speed in 240 old volunteers age 75. In 8 studies, there was zero association between the 35\% and 13\% gains in leg mechanical power and gait speed in 150 old adults age 73. To increase the efficacy of intervention studies designed to improve gait speed and other critical mobility functions in old adults, there is a need for a paradigm shift from conventional (clinical) outcome assessments to more sophisticated biomechanical analyses that examine joint kinematics, kinetics, energetics, muscle-tendon function, and musculoskeletal modeling before and after interventions.},
  language  = {en}
}