Abstract
Compared with elderly people who have not experienced falls, those who have were reported to have a shortened step length, large fluctuations in their pace, and a slow walking speed. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the step length required to maintain a walking speed of 1.0 m/s in patients aged 75 years or older. We measured the 10 m maximum walking speed in patients aged 75 years or older and divided them into the following two groups: Those who could walk 1.0 m/s or faster (fast group) and those who could not (slow group). Step length was determined from the number of steps taken during the 10 m-maximum walking speed test, and the step length-to-height ratio was calculated. Isometric knee extension muscle force (kgf), modified functional reach (cm), and one-leg standing time (s) were also measured. We included 261 patients (average age: 82.1 years, 50.6% men) in this study. The fast group included 119 participants, and the slow group included 142 participants. In a regression logistic analysis, knee extension muscle force (p = 0.03) and step length-to-height ratio (p < 0.01) were determined as factors significantly related to the fast group. As a result of ROC curve analysis, a step length-to-height ratio of 31.0% could discriminate between the two walking speed groups. The results suggest that the step length-to-height ratio required to maintain a walking speed of 1.0 m/s is 31.0% in patients aged 75 years or older.
Highlights
The characteristics of the walking pattern of the elderly include a low walking speed, short step length, slight increase of the two-leg support period, slight decrease of leg lifting in the swinging period, increase in the step width, decrease in the amount of arm swinging, and instability during changes of direction [1]
Step length can be cited as one indicator of walking stability
Step length is reported to shorten in proportion to aging, resulting in a decrease in walking speed [6,7,8,9], or leg muscle strength [10]
Summary
The characteristics of the walking pattern of the elderly include a low walking speed, short step length, slight increase of the two-leg support period, slight decrease of leg lifting in the swinging period, increase in the step width, decrease in the amount of arm swinging, and instability during changes of direction [1]. In comparison with elderly people who have not experienced falls, those who have experienced falls were reported to have a shortened step length, large fluctuations in their pace, and a slow walking speed [2]. Those whose walking speed is below 1.0 m/s are at high risk for leg injury, hospitalization, and death [3]. Walking speed is related to age, height, lower limb muscular force, balance ability, and lower extremity joint disorders [5,6] Among these variables, step length can be cited as one indicator of walking stability. Knowledge of this data would be useful to clarify tasks for walking acquisition, setting of training goals, and maintaining practical mobility methods, and would be valuable information for the construction of physical therapy exercise programs
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
