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Effects of lunges inserted in walking (eccentric walking) on lower limb muscle strength, physical and cognitive function of regular walkers

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Walking is a popular exercise but does not increase lower limb muscle strength and balance. We hypothesized that muscle strength, physical and cognitive function would be improved by inserting lunges in conventional walking.

Methods

Eleven regular walkers (54–88 years) who had more than 5000 steps in exercise walking a day at least 5 days a week participated in this study. They walked as usual for the first 4 weeks and included lunges and descending stairs or slope walking (i.e., eccentric walking) for the next 8 weeks. The steps of eccentric walking were gradually increased from 100 to 1000 steps per week over 8 weeks.

Results

The average steps per day were 10,535 ± 3516 in the first 4 weeks, and 10,118 ± 3199 in the eccentric walking period without a significant difference. No significant changes in maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque of the knee extensors (MVC), 30-s chair stand (CS), 2-min step, balance assessed by center of pressure movement area with eyes close, sit and reach, a digit symbol substitution test (DSST) for cognitive function were observed in the first 4 weeks. However, significant (P < 0.05) improvements were evident in MVC (18.6 ± 15.7%), CS (24.2 ± 17.3%), balance ( – 45.3 ± 34.5%), and DSST (20.8 ± 16.7%) from weeks 4 to 12. Serum complement component 1q concentration decreased (P < 0.05) from weeks 4 to 12, although no changes in serum glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol concentrations were observed.

Conclusion

These results supported the hypothesis, and suggest that eccentric walking provides effects that are not achieved by conventional walking.

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Data availability

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Abbreviations

ADL:

Activities of daily living

Bal-EC:

Static balance ability with eyes closed

CS:

30‑s chair stand

C1q:

Complement component 1q

GLU:

Glucose

HDLC:

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol

LDLC:

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

MT:

Muscle thickness

MVC:

Maximal voluntary isometric contraction

2MS:

2‑min step test

SR:

Sit‑and‑reach test

TC:

Total cholesterol

TG:

Triacylglycerols

TUG:

3‑m timed up and go test

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Acknowledgements

We would like to appreciate the participants in the present study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Promotion of Higher Education, Kogakuin University, 2665-1 Nakano, Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-0015, Japan

    Yoshihiro Katsura & Noriko Takeda

  2. Institute of Physical Education, Keio University, 4-1-1, Hiyoshi, Kohoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8521, Japan

    Takayuki Inami & Shota Yamaguchi

  3. Sports Science, Daito Bunka University, 1-9-1, Takashimadaira, Itabashi, Tokyo, 175-8571, Japan

    Sho Takahashi

  4. Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Nishi Kyushu University, 4490-9, Kanzaki, Saga, 842-8585, Japan

    Masatoshi Nakamura

  5. Centre for Human Performance, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia

    Kazunori Nosaka

Authors
  1. Yoshihiro Katsura
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  2. Noriko Takeda
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  3. Takayuki Inami
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  4. Shota Yamaguchi
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  5. Sho Takahashi
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  6. Masatoshi Nakamura
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  7. Kazunori Nosaka
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Contributions

YK and KN conceived and designed the current research project. YK instructed the exercise sessions and took the measurements with NT, TI, SY, ST and MN, and all contributed to the discussion of the data. KN provided advice on the research process. YK analyzed the data, and YK and KN drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yoshihiro Katsura.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the University Institutional Review Boards for Human Subjects and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Additional information

Communicated by Lori Ann Vallis.

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Katsura, Y., Takeda, N., Inami, T. et al. Effects of lunges inserted in walking (eccentric walking) on lower limb muscle strength, physical and cognitive function of regular walkers. Eur J Appl Physiol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-024-05453-y

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