Effectiveness of a progressive stepping program on lower limb function in community dwelling older adults

A progressive stepping program (PSP) comprising of 28 sessions each of 75 minutes were offered to two groups of community dwelling older adults with different levels of mobility at a frequency of 3 times a week so as to assess the program's effect on lower limb function as reflected in the Timed Up-and-Go test (TUG) and the Timed Open-eyed Single Leg Stand test (TOLS). Significant differences were found among the different groups in the TUG score (F = 11.05, p < 0.05). Moreover, the TUG score gain was greater in the lower mobility group (21.5%) than in the higher mobility group (7.8%). It was concluded that while the PSP was effective in improving dynamic balance, alternative modes would be needed in order to achieve improvements in the TOLS scores.