The effects of an active-assisted stretching program on functional performance in elderly persons: A pilot study

Figures & data

Figure 1 Randomized controlled trial flow chart.

Table 1 Participant characteristics (mean ± SD)

	Control	Experimental	pvalue
Number (n)	8	9
Age (years)	87.5 ± 6.2	90.0 ± 4.5	0.34
Weight (kg)	63.6 ± 8.3	62.7 ± 10.3	0.87

Table 2 Pre- and posttest means (standard deviation) for range-of-motion measures of the active-assisted stretching and control groups

Test	Active-assisted stretch			Control
	Pretest	Posttest	pwithin	Pretest	Posttest	pwithin	pbetween
Back scratch, right (cm)	−23.65 (20.42)	−24.46 (18.39)	0.020*	−21.03 (22.73)	−14.53 (21.69)	0.435	0.008**
Back scratch, left (cm)	−25.55 (12.88)	−27.31 (11.96)	0.071	−25.12 (13.72)	−21.44 (13.21)	0.147	0.020**
Chair sit-and-reach, right (cm)	−6.07 (14.25)	−1.55 (9.17)	0.104	−11.76 (9.98)	−13.49 (10.44)	0.164	0.004**
Chair sit-and-reach, left (cm)	−5.08 (12.40)	0.43 (9.86)	0.035*	−11.76 (11.15)	−14.61 (9.40)	0.254	0.002**
Total body rotation, right (cm)	12.19 (10.51)	24.38 (8.15)	0.001*	12.45 (14.91)	11.68 (14.33)	0.763	0.001**
Total body rotation, left (cm)	15.00 (9.80)	23.62 (16.15)	0.034*	15.00 (12.14)	11.68 (12.10)	0.069	0.009**
Knee extension, right (rad)	2.58 (0.19)	2.80 (0.13)	0.001*	2.50 (0.24)	2.41 (0.21)	0.019*	0.001**
Knee extension, left (rad)	2.58 (0.19)	2.77 (0.13)	0.002*	2.54 (0.24)	2.46 (0.16)	0.210	<0.001**

Notes: p within, changes between pretest and posttest range-of-motion values for each group. p between, differences between groups across the training period.

* Significant change across time.

** Significant group × time interaction.

Table 3 Pre- and posttest means (standard deviation) for functional measures of the active-assisted stretching and control groups

Test	Active-assisted stretch			Control			pbetween
	Pretest	Posttest	pwithin	Pretest	Posttest	pwithin
Chair stand (repetitions)	11.1 (5.2)	13.0 (5.7)	0.003*	9.88 (6.4)	7.75 (5.1)	0.021*	<0.001**
Modified ramp power (watts)	69.2 (20)	86.9 (29)	0.001*	57.0 (19)	52.4 (18)	0.043*	< 0.001**
Arm curl (repetitions)	12.9 (4.8)	18.8 (3.4)	<0.001*	15.63 (7.1)	13.9 (5.7)		< 0.001**
Gallon jug shelf (sec)	13.4 (3.0)	11.5 (2.7)	0.017*	18.5 (11)	18.9 (10)		0.006**
8′ up-and-go (sec)	8.7 (3.1)	7.6 (2.4)	0.041*	12.0 (7.9)	14.6 (11)	0.007*	0.003**
Gait speed (sec)	13.9 (3.0)	12.3 (3.0)	0.041*	16.3 (6.1)	18.7 (3.0)	0.043*	0.007**

Notes: p within, changes between pre- and posttest functional values for each group. p between, differences between groups across the training period.

* Significant change across time.

** Significant group × time interaction.