Background and Intensity of the GALM Physical activity Program

Background: The Groningen Active Living Model (GALM) was developed to stimulate physical activity in sedentary and underactive older adults. The GALM physical activity program was primarily based on an evolutionary–biological play theory and insights from social cognitive theory. The purpose of this study was to assess the intensity of the GALM program. Methods: Data from 15 GALM sessions were obtained by means of heart rate monitors. Results: Data of 97 program participants (mean age: 60.1 y) were analyzed. The overall mean intensity for the GALM program was 73.7% of the predicted heart rate maximum and 6% of the monitored heart rate time could be classified as light, 33% as moderate and 61% as hard. Conclusions: The GALM program met the intensity guidelines to increase cardiorespiratory fitness. The intensity and attractiveness of this physical activity program make it an interesting alternative for stimulating physical activity in sedentary and underactive older adults

Ten-metre walk, with or without a turn?

Objective: To compare results obtained using different procedures to measure 10-metre walking time. Design: Walking was limed over a straight 10 m, and over 5 m with return, Further, the time taken to turn was measured directly. Setting: Rehabilitation department of a university hospital. Subjects: Patients who had walking disability after stroke. Results: in the group of 43 patients, the time taken to walk 5 m and return was 3.3 (SD 5.0) s longer than the time to walk 10 m straight, but there was a large variation with some patients walking faster. The measured time to turn in a second group of 27 patients was 3.2 (SD 1.6) s. The times taken to walk 10 m straight and 5 m and return, and the time taken to turn were all highly correlated (r = 0.69 or more). Conclusions: Timing walking over 5 m with a return is an acceptable alternative to the 10 m straight walk, but the actual time taken varies. On average, the walk with a turn is 3.3 s longer but in individual patients the difference may be much more or less. Sometimes the walk with a turn is even faster than that without