%0 Journal Article %T Would static-stretching exercises acutely affect the gait parameters in the older adults or not? %J International Journal of Biomedicine and Public Health %I Negah Institute for Scientific Communication ( In Cooperation with Negah Scientific Publisher) %Z 2588-5375 %A Ebrahimipour, Ehsan %A Sabet, Fereshteh %A Beyranvand, Ramin %D 2019 %\ 09/01/2019 %V 2 %N 3 %P 46-50 %! Would static-stretching exercises acutely affect the gait parameters in the older adults or not? %K Elderly %K falling %K Gait %K Static-Stretching %R 10.22631/ijbmph.2019.150567.1079 %X Introduction:Falling is one of the most important health issues among the elderly that can lead to irreparable injuries. Previous studies suggest that exaggerated hip muscle tightness is a common characteristic of the fallers. The present research aimed to analyze the effects of one stretching session on   the falling risk of older adults. Methods: Fifteen healthy elderly men voluntarily participated in this research. They randomly divided into two control and experimental group with equivalent physical characteristics (n=25 in each group). The participants were excluded if they had problems that may affect their walking ability.  This study was quasi-experimental research. Kinematic gait analysis was executed by motion analysis system previous (PRE) and instantly following (POST) a set of characteristic static-stretching training for the hip flexor muscles on both limbs. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. Results:The results of our study demonstrated a significant increase in walking speed and step length (P < 0.05) following one session of static-stretching training. Also, there was a significant decrease in double support time during the stance phase of walking (P < 0.05), proposing developed stability and mobility. The anterior-posterior pelvis tilt was also increased significantly in post-test in comparison with pre-test (P < 0.05). Some of the other gait parameters like toe clearance inhabited unchanged (P > 0.05) and the stable pattern of segmental angular velocities was suggested to analyze the stability of the unaltered gait parameters. Conclusion: The findings propose that stretching training, applied on a systematic basis (e.g. daily exercises), result in gait adaptations which can be considered as indicative of decreased the risk of fall. %U https://www.ijbmph.com/article_99705_3a65d4d595e7e75edfa1551bc05e3e0c.pdf