There were significant improvements in the R group compared with the C group : maximal gait speed improved by 8 % ( p = 0.003 ) ; distance covered in 6 min over an ecological circuit increased by 7.1 % ( p = 0.01 ) ; and time to ascend and to descend a flight of stairs decreased by 9.8 % ( p = 0.003 ) and 6.6 % ( p = 0.009 ) , respectively .