EFFECTS OF HIGH-SPEED POWER TRAINING ON NEUROMUSCULAR AND GAIT FUNCTIONS IN FRAIL ELDERLY WITH MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT - A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Q: What was the main objective of this randomized controlled trial?

To investigate how an 8-week high-speed power training program affects neuromuscular function, gait performance, and executive functions in frail elderly with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Q: How was high-speed power training (HSPT) delivered to participants?

The intervention group performed HSPT three times per week for eight weeks, using elastic-band movements emphasizing high-speed contractions.

Q: What improvements were observed after 8 weeks of HSPT?

HSPT improved knee extensor strength and measures related to torque development and EMG rise, while reducing movement time and motor time; gait speed and timed up-and-go (TUG) also significantly improved.

Sep 15, 2026

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Background: Physical frailty and impaired executive function share related pathophysiology, contributing to neuromuscular and gait dysfunction in older adults. High-speed power training (HSPT) has shown benefits for neuromuscular performance, gait, and executive function in aging populations. Objectives: Assess the effects of 8-week HSPT on neuromuscular, gait, and executive functions in frail elderly with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Design and participants: Randomized controlled trial with 42 participants assigned to control or intervention; intervention received HSPT 3 times weekly for 8 weeks.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Frailty and neuromuscular decline

Mild cognitive impairment and executive function

Rationale for high-speed power training

Methods

Subjects

Intervention and measurements

Results

Conclusion

ORIGINAL RESEARCH EFFECTS OF HIGH-SPEED POWER TRAINING ON NEUROMUSCULAR AND GAIT FUNCTIONS IN FRAIL ELDERLY WITH MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT DESPITE BLUNTED EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL D. W. LEE1,* , D. H. YOON1,3,* , J.-Y. LEE3,4 , S.B. PANDAY5,6 , J. PARK5 , W. SONG1,2,5 1. Health and Exercise Science Laboratory, Institute of Sports Science, Seoul National University, Korea; 2. Institute on Aging, Seoul National University, Korea; 3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Korea; 4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Koreal; 5. Department of Physical Education, Seoul National University, Korea; 6. Department of Sports & Leisure Studies, Keimyung University, Korea. * The authors contributed equally to this study. Corresponding author: Prof. Wook Song, Ph.D., Health and Exercise Science Laboratory, Institute of Sports Science, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanangno, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul 08826, Korea, -mail: [songw3@snu.ac.kr](songw3@snu.ac.kr), Telephone: 82-2-880-7791, Fax: 82-2-872-2867 Abstract: Background: Physical frailty and impaired executive function of the brain show similar pathophysiology. Both of these factors lead to dysfunction of neuromuscular and abilities in elderly. Highspeed power training (HSPT) has been determined to have positive effects on neuromuscular function and gait performance, as well as executive function in the elderly. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 8-week HSPT on neuromuscular, gait and executive functions in frail elderly with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) . Design, setting and participants: We performed a randomized controlled trial of frail elderly from community and medical center in republic of Korea . Forty-two physically frail elderly with MCI were randomly allocated to control (n=22, age=74.22±4.46) and intervention groups (n=18, age=73.77±4.64) . The intervention group was subjected to HSPT, 3 times weekly for 8 weeks. Measurements: Isometric contraction of knee extension and flexion with electromyography (EMG) was measured to determine the neuromuscular function such as knee extensor strength, rate of torque development, movement time, pre-motor time, motor time, rate of EMG rise, and hamstrings antagonist co-activation. Additionally, the 4.44-meter gait and timed up-andgo (TUG) test were administered to assess gait performance. A frontal assessment battery was measured in this study. Results: The 8-week HSPT regimen improved the knee extensor strength from 1.13±0.08 to 1.25±0.07 (p<0.05), the 200-ms RTD from 3.01±0.3 to 3.55±0.24 (p<0.05) and the rate of EMG rise from 166.48±13.31 to 197.94±11.51 (p<0.05), whereas the movement time and motor time were statistically decreased from 921.69±40.10 to 799.51±72.84, and 271.40±19.29 to 181.15±38.08 (p<0.05), respectively. The 4.44-m gait speed and TUG significantly decreased from 6.39±0.25 to 5.5±0.24, and 11.05±0.53 to 9.17±0.43 respectively (p<0.05) . Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest the favorable effects of 8-week HSPT on the neuromuscular function and the gait performance in the frail elderly with MCI without increase in the executive function. Key words: Frailty, High-speed power training, Mild cognitive impairment, Neuromuscular functions, Randomized controlled trial. J Frailty Aging 2020;in press Published online May 6, 2020, [http://dx.doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2020.23](http://dx.doi.org/10.14283/jfa.2020.23) Introduction Frailty is associated with aging that is characterized by declined neuromuscular and gait functions, resulting in adverse outcomes such as falls, physical disabilities, hospitalization, dependence, and mortality (1) . Particularly, the frailty affects dysfunction of neuromuscular functions including muscular strength, rate of torque development (RTD), pre-motor time, motor time, movement time, rate of electomyogr

FAQs

What was the main objective of this randomized controlled trial?

To investigate how an 8-week high-speed power training program affects neuromuscular function, gait performance, and executive functions in frail elderly with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

How was high-speed power training (HSPT) delivered to participants?

The intervention group performed HSPT three times per week for eight weeks, using elastic-band movements emphasizing high-speed contractions.

What improvements were observed after 8 weeks of HSPT?

HSPT improved knee extensor strength and measures related to torque development and EMG rise, while reducing movement time and motor time; gait speed and timed up-and-go (TUG) also significantly improved.

Sep 15, 2026

Upload by Nguyễn Văn Học