Gait Metrics For Older Adults Using Different Walking Devices After A Six-week Walking Intervention

Abstract

Falls have detrimental effects to older adults’ physical and mental wellbeing and can even result in death. The medical system spends billions of dollars on treatment for falls every year. Measuring different aspects of gait, such as gait velocity, can help predict the risk for falling. PURPOSE: This study investigated how walking with no device, walking poles, or the gait trainer impacted gait metrics in older adults. METHODS: Fourteen participants (3 men, 11 women, aged 77.53 ± 7.28 years) were randomized to one of three walking groups: Control (C) (n=4), Walking Poles (WP) (n=5), or Gait Trainer (GT) (n=5). The gait trainer is a new device aimed at preventing age-related gait decline. Assessments were performed at three separate times: prior to the intervention (Pre-test), immediately after the intervention (Post1), and six weeks after Post1 (Post2). Assessments included measurements of gait velocity, cadence, and left and right step lengths for the subjects’ normal and fast gait speeds. For the six-week intervention, all participants walked three times per week for 30 minutes in their assigned walking group. RESULTS: An ANOVA showed there were no statistically significant differences between the groups at Pre-test for all metrics (p > 0.05). Between group measurements across time were analyzed using linear regression models for all metrics, with an alpha set at p < 0.05. The only statistically significant difference was found for left step length (L SL) for fast gait velocity between the C and WP groups from Pre-test to Post1 (p = 0.03). From Pre-test to Post1, L SL increased in C from 68.4 cm to 73.7 cm and decreased in WP from 73.0 cm to 70.6 cm. There were no statistically significant differences for all other metrics analyzed. CONCLUSION: The results from this study found that walking group did not impact gait velocity over time. Gait velocity is determined by step length and cadence, and can be used as a predictor of falls; therefore, walking group did not impact fall risk with the six-week walking intervention, despite the increase in L SL for the C group. The current sample size was relatively high-functioning and did not show improvement; however, trends indicated a subset of lower functioning participants who have experienced notable age-related gait decline may benefit from the gait trainer.