Psychophysiological Effects of Ascending and Descending Stairs on Cardiometabolic Function in the Hemiparetic Elderly

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the activity of ascending and descending stairs would exert psychophysio-logical influences on cardiometabolic function in nine hemiparetic and twelve healthy age- and sex-matched elderly subjects. The parameters including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, pressure rate product, plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine were measured. The extent of anxiety was obtained using The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The experiment consisted of three stages: first, five-minute basal sitting rest, second, ascending stairs on a gait pattern of the first step of the nonaffected foot on one stair followed by the affected foot on the same stair, and, third, descending stairs in the same way with the first step of the affected foot on one stair. Statistical analysis was performed using a two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance and an unpaired Student's t-test, resulting in significant difference in systolic blood pressure between the groups. Moreover, the interaction effect of the groups on the time changes was significantly shown in systolic blood pressure and norepinephrine. These findings demonstrate that fear of falling would not always exhibit the same response to stair climbing in the two groups, but systolic blood pressure and norepinephrine may be indicated as an important factor to appreciably exert psychophysiological influences on cardiometabolic function in hemiparetic elders.

Key Words:

• Hemiparesis
• ascending and descending stairs
• anxiety
• psychophysiological function

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Toshiaki Muraki

Jennifer R. Johnson was a graduate student in the School of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX at the time of this study. She is currently employed as an Occupational Therapist at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, LA

Debra Stewart is Lecturer, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University and staff therapist at Erinoak Centre, Missis-sauga, Ontario. She is currently completing a MSc (Design, Measurement and Evaluation) at McMaster University.