Abstract
Abstract Falls prevention is an important healthcare topic in an ageing society due to serious and costly injuries. Gait biomechanics utilising 3D motion capture system can possibly identify fall-prone walking patterns. It is, therefore, important to reveal factors for negative gait changes and higher falls risks. A total of 54 community-dwelling senior citizens undertook a series of examinations: (i) fundamental gait assessment - step length, step width, double support time; (ii) the risk of tripping falls - minimum foot clearance (MFC); (iii) flat-foot contact - foot contact angle; (iv) fundamental physical tests - grip strength, functional reach, one-leg standing; (v) executive function - trail making test-A; (vi) Psychological health - General Health Questionnaire 12; (vii) falls history and (viii) polypharmacy. Pearson’s correlations were computed between gait data and the other potentially related factors. A reduced number of drugs (r = -.353, p < .01) and prolonged one-leg standing i.e. improved balance (r =.333, p < .05) demonstrated interlinks with greater step length, indicating the overall gait health. Step length was also strongly correlated with foot contact angle (r = .537, p < .01), which was further associated with one leg standing (r = .339, < .05). The risk of tripping (MFC) showed interrelations with one leg standing (r = .273, < .05) and functional reach (r = .289, < .05). Furthermore, step width was also correlated with one leg standing (r = -.289, < .05) and functional reach (r = -.278, < .05). Balance control capacity (one leg standing) and flexibility (functional reach) may be, therefore, closely related to gait control and tripping risks. While fundamental physical tests thus adequately reflected gait data, mental health and executive function were not correlated with gait data in the current study. Further investigation with a larger sample size will be required.
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