Motor Learning in the Community-dwelling Elderly during Nordic Backward Walking

[Purpose] The aims of this study were: 1) to confirm the motion learning process of Nordic backward walking (NBW) in older adult community-dwelling volunteers and, 2) to check the change in psychological condition resulting from NBW. This study examined whether the learning process and psychological condition become more efficient after repeated sessions of NBW. [Methods] The subjects were 19 community-dwelling elderly individuals between the ages of 64 and 78 years. [Results] Significant differences in walking speed during NBW were only found between the first and second sessions and between the second and third sessions. The walking speed in the sixth session, measured one hour after the fifth session, was decreased in comparison with that in the fifth session. Significant differences in stride length during NBW were only found between the first and second sessions and between the second and third sessions. The stride length in the sixth session, measured one hour after the fifth session, was decreased in comparison with that in the fifth session. Significant differences in VAS score (sense of fear) after NBW were found for each session. VAS score for the sixth session, measured one hour after the fifth session, was decreased in comparison with that for the fifth session. [Conclusions] The findings in the present study suggest that NBW is indeed a novel task and that motor learning occurs as a result of practice, leading to a more efficient recruitment of motor units.