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Walking in Natural Environments as Geriatrician’s Recommendation for Fall Prevention: Preliminary Outcomes from the “Passiata Day” Model

Author

Listed:
  • Giuseppe Battaglia

    (Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Via Giovanni Pascoli, 6, 90144 Palermo, Italy
    Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, University of Palermo, Via Giovanni Pascoli, 6, 90144 Palermo, Italy)

  • Valerio Giustino

    (Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Via Giovanni Pascoli, 6, 90144 Palermo, Italy
    PhD Program in Health Promotion and Cognitive Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Giovanni Pascoli, 6, 90144 Palermo, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Messina

    (Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Via Giovanni Pascoli, 6, 90144 Palermo, Italy
    Posturalab Italia Research Institute, Via Santicelli 4, 90131 Palermo, Italy)

  • Mariangela Faraone

    (Geriatric Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro, 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

  • Jessica Brusa

    (Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Via Giovanni Pascoli, 6, 90144 Palermo, Italy)

  • Anna Bordonali

    (Geriatric Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro, 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

  • Mario Barbagallo

    (Geriatric Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro, 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

  • Antonio Palma

    (Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Via Giovanni Pascoli, 6, 90144 Palermo, Italy
    Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, University of Palermo, Via Giovanni Pascoli, 6, 90144 Palermo, Italy
    Regional Sports School of CONI Sicilia, Sicily, Italy, Via Emanuele Notarbartolo, 1/G, 90141 Palermo, Italy)

  • Ligia-Juliana Dominguez

    (Geriatric Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro, 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy)

Abstract

Background: The Geriatric Unit of the University of Palermo developed the “Passiata Day” model, a green exercise intervention consisting of a one-hour walk, once/week, in a city park. The purpose of this study was to assess body balance in older people who walked regularly compared to sedentary people. Methods: 106 older people (75 women and 31 men; mean age: 72.3 ± 8.2 years) without fall history were invited to participate voluntarily in this natural environment walking program. After six months, both the participants who had taken part regularly in the walk (i.e., the physical activity group (PAG; n = 72; 54 women and 18 men; mean age: 70.7 ± 7.2 years)), and who had not accepted to be included in the outdoor walking program (i.e., the sedentary group (SG; n = 34; 21 women and 13 men; mean age: 75.5 ± 9.4 years)), performed a stabilometric test with open eyes (OE) and with closed eyes (CE). Results: Our preliminary results showed significant differences between groups on the ellipse sway area both in the OE ( p < 0.05) and in CE condition ( p < 0.01). Moreover, we found a significant difference on sway along the frontal plane both in the OE ( p < 0.05) and in the CE condition ( p < 0.01), and on sway along the sagittal plane for the test with CE ( p < 0.01). Conclusion: Based on our preliminary findings, we suggest that walking regularly in an outdoor setting could lead to a greater body balance in older people and could be recommended by geriatricians for preventing the risk of falls. The next step will be to investigate the effect of an experimental outdoor walking program structured in terms of intensity, frequency and volume.

Suggested Citation

  • Giuseppe Battaglia & Valerio Giustino & Giuseppe Messina & Mariangela Faraone & Jessica Brusa & Anna Bordonali & Mario Barbagallo & Antonio Palma & Ligia-Juliana Dominguez, 2020. "Walking in Natural Environments as Geriatrician’s Recommendation for Fall Prevention: Preliminary Outcomes from the “Passiata Day” Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-9, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:2684-:d:338514
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Klára Novotová & Dagmar Pavlů & Dominika Dvořáčková & Anna Arnal-Gómez & Gemma Victoria Espí-López, 2022. "Influence of Walking as Physiological Training to Improve Respiratory Parameters in the Elderly Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Bohyun Kim & Changhong Youm & Hwayoung Park & Myeounggon Lee & Byungjoo Noh, 2021. "Characteristics of Gait Variability in the Elderly While Walking on a Treadmill with Gait Speed Variation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-13, April.
    3. Francesco Cattaneo & Ilaria Buondonno & Debora Cravero & Francesca Sassi & Patrizia D’Amelio, 2022. "Musculoskeletal Diseases Role in the Frailty Syndrome: A Case–Control Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    4. Jessica Brusa & Maria Cristina Maggio & Daniele Zangla & Valerio Giustino & Ewan Thomas & Romilda Palma & Giuseppe Messina & Antonio Palma & Giovanni Corsello & Marianna Bellafiore, 2020. "Comparison of Postural Features and Muscle Strength between Children with Idiopathic Short Stature and Healthy Peers in Relation to Physical Exercise," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-10, May.
    5. Massimo Rossato & Alessandra Nart & Giuseppe Messina & Francesco Favro & Valentina Rossato & Enxhi Rrutja & Vincenzo Biancalana, 2022. "The Refraction Assessment and the Electronic Trial Frame Measurement during Standing or Sitting Position Can Affect Postural Stability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-11, January.
    6. Valerio Giustino & Anna Maria Parroco & Antonio Gennaro & Giuseppe Musumeci & Antonio Palma & Giuseppe Battaglia, 2020. "Physical Activity Levels and Related Energy Expenditure during COVID-19 Quarantine among the Sicilian Active Population: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-19, May.
    7. Leandro Sant’Ana & Diogo Monteiro & Henning Budde & Aline Aparecida de Souza Ribeiro & João Guilherme Vieira & Estêvão Rios Monteiro & Fabiana Rodrigues Scartoni & Sérgio Machado & Jeferson Macedo Via, 2023. "Chronic Effects of Different Intensities of Interval Training on Hemodynamic, Autonomic and Cardiorespiratory Variables of Physically Active Elderly People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-13, April.
    8. Pablo Jorge Marcos-Pardo & Noelia González-Gálvez & Raquel Vaquero-Cristóbal & Gemma María Gea-García & Abraham López-Vivancos & Alejandro Espeso-García & Daniel Velázquez-Díaz & Ana Carbonell-Baeza &, 2020. "Functional Autonomy Evaluation Levels in Middle-Aged and Older Spanish Women: On Behalf of the Healthy-Age Network," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-15, November.

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