Ab. No. 171 Correlation between Gait Speed and Movement Time of Upper Limb Tasks in Younger Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Movement Time is an important variable as it influences the way we control our movement. An estimation of movement time in normal individuals helps physiotherapists constitute normative values. The gait speed of a person is used as a guide to implement intervention strategies and is a measure of functional independence. A correlation between gait speed and movement time would allow us to recognize various changes in the early stages of movement disorders.The study aims to find a correlation between the gait speed and movement time of upper limb tasks in younger adults. Methods: 30 subjects between the age of 18-25 were selected based on convenience sampling. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Gait Speed was analyzed by GAITRite and Movement Time of Upper Limb tasks by Video recording and time analysis. Result: The Shapiro-Wilk test affirmed the normal distribution of the data. Utilizing Pearson’s correlation coefficient, we observed a moderate correlation (r = -0.533) with a statistically significant p-value of 0.001 between the Average Gait Speed and Average Movement Time of upper limb tasks in the younger adult population. Conclusion: The average gait speed of an individual exhibits a moderate correlation with the movement time required for upper limb tasks. Subsequent research within this realm could explore the inclusion of older adults as subjects, considering that interventions targeting either outcome could prove particularly advantageous for this demographic Implications: Exploring the interplay between gait speed and movement time in the upper limbs among individuals without movement disorders is essential for gaining insights into how these factors may vary in people affected by such conditions.