THE EFFECT OF A SIX-MONTH WALKING PROGRAM ON GAIT VARIABILITY AND SPATIOTEMPORAL PARAMETERS IN INDIVIDUALS WITH MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

Abstract

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the effects of a 6-month walking program on gait variability and spatiotemporal characteristics in a group of eight previously sedentary older adults (77.8 ± 4.5 years) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is defined as a state in which a single cognitive function is impaired to a greater extent than would be expected based on a person's chronological age, yet the criteria for dementia have not been met. We hypothesized that preferred walking speed (PWS) overground would increase and gait variability would decrease following the intervention. The center-based walking intervention was 2 days/week and a behavioral intervention was conducted in an attempt to increase the activity levels of the participants in their environment outside of the center. PWS overground was measured prior to the intervention. This pre-test speed was used for all treadmill testing. Participants walked at their PWS on a treadmill while temporal characteristics of 20 strides were measured using foot switches. Stride rate (SR) and stride length (SL) were computed from the footswitch data. Gait variability was quantified using the coefficient of variation (X/SD × 100). PWS over ground was significantly faster after the intervention (1.04 ± .17 vs. 1.12 ± .18 m/s, p = .03). SR (.92 ± .07 vs. .86 ± .14 Hz, p = .22) and SL (1.15 ± .17 vs. 1.23 ± .15 m, p = .31) for the right limb were not significantly different after the intervention. Stride length variability remained unchanged in both the left (2.50 ± 1.99 vs. 2.28 ± .87%, p = .68) and right (2.53 ± 1.92 vs. 2.22 ± .67%, p = .63) limbs. In conclusion, a 6-month walking intervention increased PWS in a group of older adults with MCI, but SR, SL, and stride length variability were unchanged. Funded in part by NIA Project # 5 P60 AG10484-08.