{"id":6988,"date":"2019-08-19T09:06:56","date_gmt":"2019-08-19T06:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/?p=6988"},"modified":"2019-09-20T08:14:03","modified_gmt":"2019-09-20T05:14:03","slug":"walking-slower-and-pausing-for-rest-may-enable-older-adults-to-maintain-outdoor-mobility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/walking-slower-and-pausing-for-rest-may-enable-older-adults-to-maintain-outdoor-mobility\/","title":{"rendered":"Walking slower and pausing for rest may enable older adults to maintain outdoor mobility","raw":"Walking slower and pausing for rest may enable older adults to maintain outdoor mobility"},"content":{"rendered":"

When functional ability declines, changing the way of walking by, for instance, walking slower, pausing for rest or using walking aids, can facilitate older adults\u2019 outdoor mobility. These were the findings of a study conducted at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As functional ability declines, older people may start to have difficulties in walking long distances. At this point, older people might change their way of walking consciously or unconsciously.<\/p>\n

\u201cChanges may be seen, for instance, in lowering walking speed, pausing walking for rest or even in avoiding long walking distances altogether. These early changes in walking are called walking modifications,\u201d doctoral student Heidi Skantz explains.<\/p>\n

Previous research on walking modifications has implicitly considered modifications as an early sign of functional decline and such modifications have been shown to predict walking difficulties in the future. This previous research, however, has emphasized mainly the negative side of the use of walking modifications. We think that the potential positive, enabling, effects of walking modifications should also be considered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to find out if some of these changes in walking would be beneficial in maintaining outdoor mobility,\u201d Skantz says.<\/p>\n

Using walking aids, lowered walking speed and pausing for rest were categorized as adaptive walking modifications, since they were considered to reduce the task demand, whereas reduced frequency of walking and avoiding long walking distances were categorized as maladaptive modifications. This categorization was shown to be meaningful.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose older people who used maladaptive walking modifications had smaller life-space mobility and they perceived that they lacked possibilities for outdoor mobility,\u201d Skantz says. \u201cAs for those older people who had chosen to utilise adaptive walking modifications, they were able to maintain wider life-space mobility and they were also satisfied with their outdoor mobility opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n

As functional ability declines, walking long distances might become a harder and scarier task than before. In such a case, it still remains important to continue covering long distances by walking, even if with walking aids or by pausing walking, in order to maintain outdoor mobility.<\/p>\n

\u201cEncouraging older people to opt for adaptive walking modifications might be possible by designing age-friendly environments, for instance by providing opportunities to rest when walking outdoors. However this warrants further studies,\u201d says Skantz.<\/p>\n

The study participants were older people between the ages of 75 and 90, who were living in the Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 and Muurame regions in central Finland. The study was conducted at the Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4. This study was supported by European Research Council, the Academy of Finland, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4.<\/p>\n


\nReference:<\/strong> Skantz, H., Rantanen, T., Palmberg, L., Rantalainen, T., Aartolahti, E., Portegijs, E., Viljanen, A., Eronen, J. & Rantakokko, M. (2019). Outdoor Mobility and Use of Adaptive or Maladaptive Walking Modifications among Older People. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, First published July 29, 2019. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/gerona\/glz172<\/p>\n

More information:
\n<\/strong>PhD student Heidi Skantz
\nheidi.e.skantz@jyu.fi
\n+358 40 805 3721<\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":"When functional ability declines, changing the way of walking by, for instance, walking slower, pausing for rest or using walking aids, can facilitate older adults\u2019 outdoor mobility. These were the findings of a study conducted at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nAs functional ability declines, older people may start to have difficulties in walking long distances. At this point, older people might change their way of walking consciously or unconsciously.\r\n\r\n\u201cChanges may be seen, for instance, in lowering walking speed, pausing walking for rest or even in avoiding long walking distances altogether. These early changes in walking are called walking modifications,\u201d doctoral student Heidi Skantz explains.\r\n\r\nPrevious research on walking modifications has implicitly considered modifications as an early sign of functional decline and such modifications have been shown to predict walking difficulties in the future. This previous research, however, has emphasized mainly the negative side of the use of walking modifications. We think that the potential positive, enabling, effects of walking modifications should also be considered.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe wanted to find out if some of these changes in walking would be beneficial in maintaining outdoor mobility,\u201d Skantz says.\r\n\r\nUsing walking aids, lowered walking speed and pausing for rest were categorized as adaptive walking modifications, since they were considered to reduce the task demand, whereas reduced frequency of walking and avoiding long walking distances were categorized as maladaptive modifications. This categorization was shown to be meaningful.\r\n\r\n\u201cThose older people who used maladaptive walking modifications had smaller life-space mobility and they perceived that they lacked possibilities for outdoor mobility,\u201d Skantz says. \u201cAs for those older people who had chosen to utilise adaptive walking modifications, they were able to maintain wider life-space mobility and they were also satisfied with their outdoor mobility opportunities.\u201d\r\n\r\nAs functional ability declines, walking long distances might become a harder and scarier task than before. In such a case, it still remains important to continue covering long distances by walking, even if with walking aids or by pausing walking, in order to maintain outdoor mobility.\r\n\r\n\u201cEncouraging older people to opt for adaptive walking modifications might be possible by designing age-friendly environments, for instance by providing opportunities to rest when walking outdoors. However this warrants further studies,\u201d says Skantz.\r\n\r\nThe study participants were older people between the ages of 75 and 90, who were living in the Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 and Muurame regions in central Finland. The study was conducted at the Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4. This study was supported by European Research Council, the Academy of Finland, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4.\r\n\r\n\r\nReference:<\/strong> Skantz, H., Rantanen, T., Palmberg, L., Rantalainen, T., Aartolahti, E., Portegijs, E., Viljanen, A., Eronen, J. & Rantakokko, M. (2019). Outdoor Mobility and Use of Adaptive or Maladaptive Walking Modifications among Older People. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, First published July 29, 2019. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/gerona\/glz172\r\n\r\nMore information:\r\n<\/strong>PhD student Heidi Skantz\r\nheidi.e.skantz@jyu.fi\r\n+358 40 805 3721"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"K\u00e4velyn mukauttaminen toimintakyvyn heikentyess\u00e4 esimerkiksi k\u00e4velyn tauottamisella, liikkumalla hitaammin tai k\u00e4ytt\u00e4m\u00e4ll\u00e4 apuv\u00e4lineit\u00e4 tukee i\u00e4kk\u00e4iden ihmisten ulkona liikkumista. T\u00e4m\u00e4 n\u00e4kyy laajempana elinpiirin\u00e4 ja tyytyv\u00e4isyyten\u00e4 ulkona liikkumisen mahdollisuuksiin. Tulokset k\u00e4viv\u00e4t ilmi Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopiston liikuntatieteellisess\u00e4 tiedekunnassa tehdyss\u00e4 tutkimuksessa. Erityisesti pidempien matkojen k\u00e4vely saattaa…","protected":false,"raw":""},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_fi_post_content":"K\u00e4velyn mukauttaminen toimintakyvyn heikentyess\u00e4 esimerkiksi k\u00e4velyn tauottamisella, liikkumalla hitaammin tai k\u00e4ytt\u00e4m\u00e4ll\u00e4 apuv\u00e4lineit\u00e4 tukee i\u00e4kk\u00e4iden ihmisten ulkona liikkumista. T\u00e4m\u00e4 n\u00e4kyy laajempana elinpiirin\u00e4 ja tyytyv\u00e4isyyten\u00e4 ulkona liikkumisen mahdollisuuksiin. Tulokset k\u00e4viv\u00e4t ilmi Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopiston liikuntatieteellisess\u00e4 tiedekunnassa tehdyss\u00e4 tutkimuksessa.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nErityisesti pidempien matkojen k\u00e4vely saattaa tuntua hankalalta toimintakyvyn laskiessa, jolloin henkil\u00f6 alkaa tiedostamatta tai tiedostaen muokkaamaan k\u00e4vely\u00e4\u00e4n.\r\n\r\n- Muutokset voivat n\u00e4ky\u00e4 esimerkiksi k\u00e4velynopeuden hidastumisena, k\u00e4velyn tauottamisena tai jopa liikkumisen v\u00e4hent\u00e4misen\u00e4. T\u00e4llaisia k\u00e4velyn varhaisia muutoksia kutsutaan k\u00e4velymodifikaatioiksi, tohtorikoulutettava\u00a0Heidi Skantz\u00a0selvent\u00e4\u00e4.\r\n\r\nAiemmin k\u00e4velymodifikaatioita on pidetty l\u00e4hinn\u00e4 toimintakyvyn alenemisen ensimm\u00e4isin\u00e4 merkkein\u00e4 ja niiden on todettu ennustavan k\u00e4velyvaikeuksien syntymist\u00e4 tulevaisuudessa, tuoden l\u00e4hinn\u00e4 liikkumisen muutosten negatiivista puolta esille. Aiempien tutkimusten perusteella kuitenkin tiedet\u00e4\u00e4n, ett\u00e4 toiminnan muuttaminen ei ole aina huono asia.\r\n\r\n- Halusimme selvitt\u00e4\u00e4 voisiko joistain n\u00e4ist\u00e4 k\u00e4velyn muutoksista olla kuitenkin hy\u00f6ty\u00e4 ulkona liikkumisen s\u00e4ilymisen kannalta, Skantz t\u00e4sment\u00e4\u00e4.\r\n

Apuv\u00e4lineet avuksi lenkille<\/h3>\r\nApuv\u00e4lineen k\u00e4ytt\u00f6, k\u00e4velyn hidastaminen ja k\u00e4velyn tauottaminen luokiteltiin positiivisiin k\u00e4velymodifikaatioihin, sill\u00e4 niiden k\u00e4yt\u00f6ll\u00e4 on toiminnan jatkumiseen pyrkiv\u00e4 ote, kun taas negatiivisiin k\u00e4velymodifikaatioihin luokiteltiin pidempien k\u00e4velymatkojen lopettaminen tai v\u00e4hent\u00e4minen. T\u00e4m\u00e4 jaottelu osoittautui mielekk\u00e4\u00e4ksi.\r\n\r\n- I\u00e4kk\u00e4ill\u00e4, jotka k\u00e4yttiv\u00e4t negatiivisia k\u00e4velymodifikaatioita, oli pieni elinpiiri ja he kokivat ettei heill\u00e4 ollut mahdollisuuksia ulkona liikkumiseen. Puolestaan i\u00e4kk\u00e4\u00e4t, jotka k\u00e4yttiv\u00e4t positiivisia k\u00e4velymodifikaatioita, pystyiv\u00e4t yll\u00e4pit\u00e4m\u00e4\u00e4n elinpiirins\u00e4 laajempana ja olivat my\u00f6s tyytyv\u00e4isempi\u00e4 ulkona liikkumisen mahdollisuuksiinsa, Skantz kertoo.\r\n\r\nKunnon heikentyess\u00e4 pidempien matkojen k\u00e4vely saattaa tuntua raskaammalta ja pelottavammalta kuin aikaisemmin. T\u00e4ll\u00f6in k\u00e4vely\u00e4 kannattaa kuitenkin jatkaa, vaikkapa sitten apuv\u00e4lineen kanssa tai lev\u00e4hdystaukoja pit\u00e4m\u00e4ll\u00e4, jotta k\u00e4vely ei pikkuhiljaa j\u00e4\u00e4 kokonaan pois.\r\n\r\n- Esimerkiksi Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4ss\u00e4 on useiden k\u00e4velyreittien varrella penkkej\u00e4, joille voi lev\u00e4ht\u00e4\u00e4 pidempien k\u00e4velylenkkien aikana, Skantz kannustaa.\r\n\r\nTutkimukseen osallistui 848 Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n ja Muuramen alueella itsen\u00e4isesti asuvaa 75\u201390-vuotiasta henkil\u00f6\u00e4. Tutkimus toteutettiin Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4n yliopiston liikuntatieteellisess\u00e4 tiedekunnassa Gerontologian tutkimuskeskuksessa (GEREC). Tutkimusta rahoittivat opetus- ja kulttuuriministeri\u00f6, Suomen Akatemia ja Euroopan tiedeneuvosto.\r\n\r\nAlkuper\u00e4isjulkaisu: Skantz, H., Rantanen, T., Palmberg, L., Rantalainen, T., Aartolahti, E., Portegijs, E., Viljanen, A., Eronen, J. & Rantakokko, M. (2019). Outdoor Mobility and Use of Adaptive or Maladaptive Walking Modifications among Older People.\u00a0The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, First published July 29, 2019. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/gerona\/glz172\r\n\r\nLis\u00e4tietoja:\r\n<\/strong>Tohtorikoulutettava Heidi Skantz, heidi.e.skantz@jyu.fi, 040 805 3721","_fi_post_name":"kavelyn-tauottaminen-ja-hidastaminen-voi-auttaa-ikaantynytta-jatkamaan-ulkona-liikkumis","_fi_post_excerpt":"","_fi_post_title":"K\u00e4\u00adve\u00adlyn tauotta\u00admi\u00adnen ja hi\u00addas\u00adta\u00admi\u00adnen voi aut\u00adtaa ik\u00e4\u00e4n\u00adty\u00adnyt\u00adt\u00e4 jat\u00adka\u00admaan ul\u00adko\u00adna liik\u00adku\u00admis\u00adta","_en_post_content":"When functional ability declines, changing the way of walking by, for instance, walking slower, pausing for rest or using walking aids, can facilitate older adults\u2019 outdoor mobility. These were the findings of a study conducted at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nAs functional ability declines, older people may start to have difficulties in walking long distances. At this point, older people might change their way of walking consciously or unconsciously.\r\n\r\n\u201cChanges may be seen, for instance, in lowering walking speed, pausing walking for rest or even in avoiding long walking distances altogether. These early changes in walking are called walking modifications,\u201d doctoral student Heidi Skantz explains.\r\n\r\nPrevious research on walking modifications has implicitly considered modifications as an early sign of functional decline and such modifications have been shown to predict walking difficulties in the future. This previous research, however, has emphasized mainly the negative side of the use of walking modifications. We think that the potential positive, enabling, effects of walking modifications should also be considered.\r\n\r\n\u201cWe wanted to find out if some of these changes in walking would be beneficial in maintaining outdoor mobility,\u201d Skantz says.\r\n\r\nUsing walking aids, lowered walking speed and pausing for rest were categorized as adaptive walking modifications, since they were considered to reduce the task demand, whereas reduced frequency of walking and avoiding long walking distances were categorized as maladaptive modifications. This categorization was shown to be meaningful.\r\n\r\n\u201cThose older people who used maladaptive walking modifications had smaller life-space mobility and they perceived that they lacked possibilities for outdoor mobility,\u201d Skantz says. \u201cAs for those older people who had chosen to utilise adaptive walking modifications, they were able to maintain wider life-space mobility and they were also satisfied with their outdoor mobility opportunities.\u201d\r\n\r\nAs functional ability declines, walking long distances might become a harder and scarier task than before. In such a case, it still remains important to continue covering long distances by walking, even if with walking aids or by pausing walking, in order to maintain outdoor mobility.\r\n\r\n\u201cEncouraging older people to opt for adaptive walking modifications might be possible by designing age-friendly environments, for instance by providing opportunities to rest when walking outdoors. However this warrants further studies,\u201d says Skantz.\r\n\r\nThe study participants were older people between the ages of 75 and 90, who were living in the Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 and Muurame regions in central Finland. The study was conducted at the Gerontology Research Center and Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4. This study was supported by European Research Council, the Academy of Finland, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4.\r\n\r\n\r\nReference:<\/strong> Skantz, H., Rantanen, T., Palmberg, L., Rantalainen, T., Aartolahti, E., Portegijs, E., Viljanen, A., Eronen, J. & Rantakokko, M. (2019). Outdoor Mobility and Use of Adaptive or Maladaptive Walking Modifications among Older People. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, First published July 29, 2019. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/gerona\/glz172\r\n\r\nMore information:\r\n<\/strong>PhD student Heidi Skantz\r\nheidi.e.skantz@jyu.fi\r\n+358 40 805 3721","_en_post_name":"walking-slower-and-pausing-for-rest-may-enable-older-adults-to-maintain-outdoor-mobility","_en_post_excerpt":"","_en_post_title":"Walking slower and pausing for rest may enable older adults to maintain outdoor mobility","edit_language":"en","footnotes":""},"categories":[130],"tags":[227,215,225,155,146,214,179,226,209],"class_list":["post-6988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tiedeuutiset","tag-ageing","tag-elinpiiri","tag-functional-performance","tag-fyysinen-aktiivisuus","tag-ikaantyminen","tag-kavelymodifikaatio","tag-physical-activity","tag-physical-function","tag-toimintakyky","entry","no-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6988","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6988"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6988\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7033,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6988\/revisions\/7033"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gerec.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}