Purpose
This study evaluates the effect of 3 month resistance and aerobic training programs on step initiation speed and foot tapping frequency in the overweight and obese.
Methods
Twenty-five overweight and obese subjects were divided into two groups and participated in either resistance or aerobic training for a period of 3 months (3 sessions per week). Prior to and following the training, they performed foot tapping and step execution tests under various conditions.
Results
Subsequent to both aerobic and resistance training, there was a significant decrease in the time from foot-off to foot-contact during spontaneous step initiation (9%, p = 0.019 vs. 7.6%, p = 0.036), visually triggered step initiation (8%, p = 0.027 vs. 7%, p = 0.039), and step initiation with eyes closed (7.6%, p = 0.030 vs. 5.9%, p = 0.044). However, mean CoP trajectory in X-axis during the back step (21.4%, p = 0.012), spontaneous step initiation (18.6%, p = 0.019), visually triggered step initiation (18.4%, p = 0.020), and step initiation with eyes closed (15.0%, p = 0.038) decreased significantly following the resistance training only. On the other hand, the number and frequency of taps increased significantly following the aerobic training (7.5%, p = 0.025 and 4.6%, p = 0.042), concurrently with a significant decrease in flight time (8.3%, p = 0.037).
Conclusions
Both aerobic and resistance training, for a period of 3 months, increase the speed of step initiation in overweight and obese individuals. However, medio-lateral postural stability during step execution improves after the resistance training but fails to improve following the aerobic training. In contrast, foot tapping frequency increases after the aerobic training but not after the resistance training.
