109.
Impaired balance and gait performance increase fall-risk in seniors. Acute effects of different exercise bouts on gait and balance were not yet addressed. Therefore, 19 healthy seniors (10 women, 9 men, age: 64.6 ± 3.2 years) were examined on 3 days. After exhaustive treadmill testing, participants randomly completed a 2-km treadmill walking test (76 ± 8 %
VO
2max) and a resting control condition. Standing balance performance (SBALP) was assessed by single limb-eyes opened (SLEO) and double limb-eyes closed (DLEC) stance. Gait parameters were collected at comfortable walking velocity. A condition × time interaction of center of pressure path length (COP
path) was observed for both balance tasks (
p < 0.001). Small (Cohen’s
d = 0.42,
p = 0.05) and large (
d = 1.04,
p < 0.001) COP
path increases were found after 2-km and maximal exercise during DLEC. Regarding SLEO, slightly increased COP
path occurred after 2-km walking (
d = 0.29,
p = 0.65) and large increases after exhaustive exercise (
d = 1.24,
p < 0.001). No significant differences were found for gait parameters. Alterations of SBALP after exhaustive exercise might lead to higher fall-risk in seniors. Balance changes upon 2-km testing might be of minor relevance. Gait is not affected during single task walking at given velocities.
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