In Community Dwelling Females Age 65 or Older, Gait Speed Declines as Kinesthetic Awareness of the Lower Legs Decreases

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates the existence of a correlation between the gait speed and kinesthetic sense in lower legs and to conduct further analysis of kinesthetic sense in relation to the risk of fall among community dwelling females aged 65 years or older. Materials and Methods: A non-experimental correlational, descriptive, and cohort study included 38 community dwelling females (average age of 82.5 years). The kinesthetic ruler (K-Ruler) and kinesthetic test protocol were created and used to assess lower extremity kinesthetic awareness. The GaitRite System was used to assess gait speed. Each subject was categorized into four groups: “LL” (Low K-Score and low gait speed), “LH” (Low K-Score and high gait speed), “HL” (High K-Score and low gait speed), and “HH” (High K-Score and high gait speed) according to kinesthetic awareness and gait speed measured. Voluntary fall incidence reporting over the 6-month period was followed by the initial data collection. Results: Pearson product-moment correlation (2-tailed) showed that there is a statistically significant, positive moderate-to-strong correlation between K-score and gait speed (ICC = 0.692, p < 0.05). Additionally there were statistically significant negative moderate to strong correlations between age and K-score, and age and gait speed (ICC = -0.648, and -0.596 respectively, p < 0.05). The 13 subjects reported fall incidences over the 6-month period. No falls were reported among subjects in HL group. Discussion: Gait speed declines as kinesthetic awareness of lower extremity decreases in community dwelling 65 or older female subjects. Additionally, the combination of kinesthetic awareness and gait speed can be served as a predictor of fall risk. The K-ruler can be used to assess lower extremity kinesthetic awareness in older people as a feasible and standard test.