Gait In Older Adults Research Articles

Effects of dance in older adults at risk of falls. Exploratory review.

Falls are considered a public health problem in older adults, and their approach should be multidimensional. Dance emerges as an intervention option that allows different schemes to be integrated in movement enhancement. To determine the effects of dance on balance, motor function and activities of daily living in older adults at risk of falling. Exploratory review of the effects of dance in older adults at risk of falling in terms of balance, gait, motor function and activities of daily living. Searches were carried out in PubMed, LILACS, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PEDro, OTSeeker, full text articles were searched in different virtual libraries (ProQuest, Ovid, Ebsco, Science Direct) and manual search was also carried out. Nineteen studies were found, which report sessions of 45 to 60 minutes for 12 weeks. Dance can be considered a safe intervention that significantly decreases control intervention for balance and gait in older adults. The results of this work support that dance can be used as an interventional option in older adults at risk of falling.

Neurodegenerative and Cerebrovascular Brain Pathologies Are Differentially Associated With Declining Grip Strength and Gait In Older Adults.

Understanding the pathological bases underlying the heterogeneity of motor decline in old age may lead to targeted treatments. We examined whether different brain pathologies are related to declining grip strength and gait function. We examined postmortem brains of older adults who underwent annual motor testing. Postmortem exam measured 6 neurodegenerative and 5 cerebrovascular disease (CVD) pathologies. Grip strength was measured twice bilaterally using a hand-held dynamometer, and gait function was a composite measure based on time and steps taken to walk 8 ft and perform a 360° turn twice. In separate linear mixed-effects models including all autopsied adults (N = 1 217), neurodegenerative pathologies including tau tangles, TDP-43, and nigral neuronal loss were associated with declining grip strength, but not CVD pathologies. In contrast, although both CVD and neurodegenerative pathologies were associated with declining gait function, CVD pathologies accounted for 75% of the variance of declining rate of gait function explained by brain pathologies and neurodegenerative pathologies accounted for 25%. These findings were unchanged in adults (n = 970) without a history of stroke. Restricting analyses to only adults without dementia (n = 661), CVD pathologies continued to account for the majority of the variance of declining gait. However, we failed to detect in this subgroup the variance of declining grip strength explained by neurodegenerative or CVD pathologies. Different pathologies accumulating in aging brains may contribute to the phenotypic heterogeneity of motor decline. Larger studies are needed in older adults without dementia to assess differences in the motor consequences of varied brain pathologies.

Infographic: Type of physical exercises recommended to improve balance and gait in older adults with a history of falls

Aging is a dynamic process associated with declining physical performance and progressive impairment of muscle strength, balance and mobility. A common result of these impairments is falling, important event that leads to activity limitations, restriction of social participation and a worse quality of life for the older adults. The systematic review made by Teng, Gomersall, Hatton and Brauer (2020) 1 shows that impaired gait and balance are risk factors for falling, but their effects can be reduced by exercise. Therefore, the aim of the infographic is to recommend the main exercise to improve balance and gait in older adults with a history of falls and its benefits. For the selection of exercises indicated in the infographic, four systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials were used. Multicomponent exercises seem to be able to reduce the rate and risk of falls in the older adults 2-4, as well as to improve gait. The exercises must involve gait training, such as, walking multidirectional and obstacle negotiation exercises with different levels of difficulty throughout the training 2-4. Moreover, it is important to include functional activities, for example, gait with different speeds, sit and get up, walking upstairs training and dancing exercise 2-4. It's interesting to include motor coordination exercises, through the ball games and team games, strengthening for abdomen, upper, and lower limb muscles and exercises using body weight 4 as well as balance training, like standing on the one leg, balance-jumping and agility training 2-4. Yet, balance exercises that involve unstable bases also appear to reduce the risk and rate of falls, as a consequence, it improves gait speed in older people with a history of falls 1. Moreover, the recommended intensity for exercise training is moderate (defined as any physical activity that consume 3 to 5.9 METs) and the duration of each training session proposed is one hour 3,4. As for the prescription, it is recommended significant doses of exercises, with a frequency per three hours or more for a week for a period of 6 months. Yet, it is necessary the constant practice of physical exercise to maintain the benefits acquired by the training 3. For future studies, a relativization of dose-response effect adjusted for age, comorbidities and past falls can be necessary. Finally, more extended follow-ups to verify the sustained effect of exercise should be needed for understanding its long-term benefits.

Sex differences in the regularity and symmetry of gait in older adults with and without knee osteoarthritis

BackgroundThree-dimensional (3D) motion measured at the lower back during walking can describe the regularity and symmetry of gait that may be related to osteoarthritis (OA) and functional status. However, gait speed and inherent sex differences, regardless of the presence of OA, may confound these measures. Therefore, there is a need to understand the effect of OA separately among males and females, without the confounding influence of gait speed. ObjectiveTo investigate the difference in 3D gait regularity and symmetry measures between gait speed-matched males and females with and without knee OA. MethodGait regularity and symmetry were computed as autocorrelations of pelvic accelerations during treadmill walking in four groups of older adults: healthy asymptomatic females (AsymF; n = 44), healthy asymptomatic males (AsymM; n = 45), females diagnosed with knee OA (OAF; n = 44), and males diagnosed with knee OA (OAM; n = 45). Data were obtained from a larger research database, allowing for the matching of gait speed between groups. The main effect of OA, sex, and interaction effect between them was examined for the 3D gait regularity and symmetry measures at an alpha level of 0.05. ResultsThere was no main effect of OA on any variable, but there was a significant main effect of sex on mediolateral and anteroposterior gait regularity measures. Specifically, females demonstrated significantly greater gait regularity, most notably in the mediolateral directions compared to males. ConclusionOlder adult females were found to display significantly greater mediolateral gait regularity as compared to males, regardless of the presence of OA. Further, this difference exists among matched gait speeds, suggesting it is not the result of gait speed. Overall, these results highlight the importance of sex-specific analyses and considering gait speed when examining gait acceleration patterns near the center of mass for both cross sectional and longitudinal gait assessments.

Impact of walking states, self-reported daily walking amount and age on the gait of older adults measured with a smart-phone app: a pilot study

BackgroundSmartphones provide a cost-effective avenue for gait assessment among older adults in the community. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of walking state, self-reported daily walking amount, and age on gait quality, using a smartphone application.MethodsOne hundred older adult individuals from North China, aged 73.0 ± 7.7 years, voluntarily participated in this study. They performed three walking tests: normal walking, fast walking, and visually impaired walking. Three-dimensional acceleration data for gait were obtained using the smartphone app Pocket Gait. This study used multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to explore the effects of the walking state, self-reported daily walking amount, and age on the step frequency, root mean square (RMS) acceleration, step time variability, regularity, and symmetry.ResultsThe walking state, self-reported daily walking amount, and age had statistically significant effects on gait quality. Compared with normal walking, the step frequency, RMS acceleration, variability, and regularity were greater in the fast-walking state, and simulated visually impaired walking did not significantly affect gait quality. Relatively older individuals had a significant decline in gait quality compared to (relatively) younger older adult individuals. Compared with older adults who walked less than 1 km a day, older adults who walked more had better gait quality.ConclusionsThe walking state, self-reported daily walking amount, and age have a significant effect on the gait quality of older adults. Walking with pigmented sunglasses can be used as a training intervention to improve gait performance. Older adult people who walk less than 1 km/day have worse gait quality compared with their counterparts.

A wearable electromyography-controlled functional electrical stimulation system improves balance, gait function, and symmetry in older adults.

Wearable technologies have been developed for healthy aging. The technology for electromyography (EMG)-controlled functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems has been developed, but research on how helpful it is in daily life has been insufficient. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the EMG-controlled FES system on muscle morphology, balance, and gait in older adults. Twenty-nine older adults were evaluated under two randomly assigned conditions (non-FES and FES assists). Muscle morphology, balance, gait function, and muscle effort during gait were measured using ultrasonography, a physical test, a gait analysis system, and EMG. The EMG-controlled FES system improved gait speed by 11.1% and cadence by 15.6% (P< 0.01). The symmetry ratio of the bilateral gastrocnemius was improved by 9.9% in the stance phase and 11.8% in the swing phase (P< 0.05). The degrees of coactivation of the knee and ankle muscles were reduced by 45.1% and 50.5%, respectively (P< 0.05). Balance improved by 6-10.7% (P< 0.01). The EMG-controlled FES system is useful for balance and gait function by increasing muscle symmetry and decreasing muscle coactivation during walking in older adults.

Association between fear of falling and spatial and temporal parameters of gait in older adults: the FIBRA-RJ study.

To evaluate the association between fear of falling (FoF) and spatial and temporal parameters of gait in older adults. This cross-sectional study evaluated 291 clients of a private health care insurance who were over 65years of age and living in the North Zone of Rio de Janeiro City in 2013. FoF was assessed by the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I-BR), and gait parameters, such as gait speed, cadence, step time, step length, stride length, and variability (standard deviation of stride length), were assessed using GAITRite®. The covariates were age, sex, history of falls, number of medications, cognitive decline, body mass index, and sight impairment. The association between FoF and gait parameters was assessed by linear regression, and the respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated. The prevalence of FoF was 51.9%. The adjusted analyses showed an association between FoF and the following gait parameters: decreased gait speed, decreased cadence, increased step time, and decreased step and stride length. No association was found between FoF and stridelenght variability. This study suggests that FoF is associated with changes in gait parameters, with the exception of stride length variability. These findings show a need for interventions to reduce FoF in older adults, which is a modifiable factor that is related to gait changes. More studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between FoF and motor control of gait in older adults.

The Effect of 2 Different Dual-Task Balance Training Methods on Balance and Gait in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of integrated and consecutive cognitive dual-task balance training in older adults on balance, fear of falling, and gait performance. Fifty-eight participants (age >65years) were randomly assigned to an integrated dual-task training group (IDTT) (n = 29) and consecutive dual-task training group (CDTT) (n = 29). Balance exercises and cognitive tasks were performed simultaneously by the IDTT group and consecutively by the CDTT group for 8weeks. Balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale as a primary outcome measure and the Timed "Up & Go" Test (TUG) (standard-cognitive), fear of falling was assessed using the Tinetti Falls Efficacy Scale, and gait speed was assessed using the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) (under single-task and dual-task conditions). All tests were performed before and after the training. There was no difference in group-time interaction in the Berg Balance Scale, TUG-standard, 10MWT-single task, and 10MWT-dual task tests. Group-time interaction was different in the TUG-cognitive and Tinetti Falls Efficacy Scale scores. Also, the effect of time was significantly different in all scales except for the 10MWT-single task in both groups. At the end of the 8-week training period, the impact of integrated and consecutive dual-task balance training on balance and gait performance in older adults was not statistically significantly different. This study suggests that consecutive dual-task balance training can be used as an alternative method to increase balance performance and gait speed in older adults who cannot perform integrated dual-task activities. There were no significant differences between the effects of the 2 dual-task training methods on balance and gait speed, suggesting that the consecutive dual-task balance training method can be used to improve the balance and gait of older adults. CDTT can be performed safely and considered as an alternative method for use in many rehabilitation training programs with older adults who cannot perform simultaneous activities.

Finding Factors in Footfalls: Exploring the Factor Structure of Gait in Older Adults.

Gait is a reputed marker of global health spanning various bodily systems (MacDonald et al., 2017) and is a robust predictor of deleterious age-related outcomes (Van Kan et al., 2009). However, the sheer number of individual gait variables employed as predictors in the existing literature can obscure interpretations. To address this issue, researchers have explored the factor structure of gait indicators to explain variance in age-related gait performance, identifying disparate models characterized by three to five underlying latent gait constructs comprised of 8 to 23 indicators (Hollman et al., 2011; Lord et al., 2013). Beyond this heterogeneity, additional limitations characterizing this literature include solutions that assume statistical independence among gait constructs, as well as inclusion of severely multicollinear indicators. Using data from the Healthy Minds Healthy Bodies (HMHB) study, the present research focused upon replicating and contrasting previous factor analytic efforts. HMHB participants (n=128) were healthy community-dwelling adults (Mage=72.81±5.24 years; female=100). Gait indicators from a GAITRite computerized walkway were selected according to a priori theoretical rationale, compatibility with previous studies, and consideration of multicollinearity. Gait factor structure was initially analyzed using principal component analysis. Results indicate the presence of three latent gait domains reflecting pace, rhythm, and variability, accounting for over 82.4% of the variance in gait performance. Current proceedings involve implementing confirmatory factor analysis to compare competing gait models. Findings will address disparities across factor models in the gait literature, as well as discuss the optimal number of factors for describing the underlying dimensionality of gait.

The Relationship between Leg Extension Angle at Late Stance and Knee Flexion Angle at Swing Phase during Gait in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between leg extension angle and knee flexion angle during gait in older adults. The subjects of this cross-sectional study were 588 community-dwelling older adults (74.6 ± 6.1 y). Segment angles and acceleration were measured using five inertial measurement units during comfortable gait, and bilateral knee and hip joint angles, and leg extension angle, reflecting whole lower limb extension at late stance, were calculated. Propulsion force was estimated using the increase in velocity calculated from anterior acceleration of the sacrum during late stance. Correlation analysis showed that leg extension angle was associated with knee flexion angle at swing phase and hip extension angle and increase in velocity at late stance (r = 0.444–508, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that knee flexion angle at mid-swing was more affected by leg extension angle (β = 0.296, p < 0.001) than by gait speed (β = 0.219, p < 0.001) and maximum hip extension angle (β = −0.150, p < 0.001). These findings indicate that leg extension angle may be a meaningful parameter for improving gait function in older adults due to the association with knee kinematics during swing as well as propulsion force at late stance.

Cognitive Reserve Moderates the Efficiency of Prefrontal Cortex Activation Patterns of Gait in Older Adults.

Cognitive reserve (CR) protects against cognitive decline, but whether CR influences the efficiency of cortical control of gait has not been reported. The current study addressed this important gap in the literature. Specifically, we determined the role of CR in moderating the efficiency of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-derived oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) assessed during active walking. We hypothesized that higher CR would be associated with more efficient brain activation patterns. Participants were 55 (mean age = 74.84; %female = 49.1) older adults who underwent the combined walking/fNIRS protocol and had magnetic resonance imaging data. We used an established dual-task walking paradigm that consisted of 3 task conditions: single-task walk (STW), single-task alpha (STA, cognitive task), and dual-task walk (DTW). Using the residual approach, CR was derived from a word-reading test score by removing variance accounted for by sociodemographic variables, tests of current cognitive functions, and a measure of structural brain integrity. CR moderated the change in fNIRS-derived HbO2 in the PFC across tasks. Higher CR was associated with smaller increases in fNIRS-derived HbO2 from the single tasks to dual-task walking (CR × DTW compared with STW: estimate = 0.183; p < .001; CR × DTW compared with STA: estimate = 0.257; p < .001). The moderation effect of CR remained significant when adjusting for multiple covariates and concurrent moderation effects of measures of gait performance, current cognitive functions, and structural integrity of the brain. The current study provided first evidence that higher CR was associated with better neural efficiency of walking in older adults.

Urinary urgency acts as a source of divided attention leading to changes in gait in older adults with overactive bladder.

There is a well-recognised but unexplained association between lower urinary tract symptoms including urgency and urgency incontinence and falls in older people. It has been hypothesised that urinary urgency acts as a source of divided attention, leading to gait changes which increase falls risk. This study aimed to assess whether urinary urgency acts as a source of divided attention in older adults with overactive bladder (OAB). 27 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and over with a clinical diagnosis of OAB underwent 3-Dimensional Instrumented Gait Analysis under three conditions; bladder empty, when experiencing urgency, and when being distracted by the n-back test. Temporal-spatial gait and kinematic gait data were compared between each condition using repeated measures ANOVA. Gait velocity decreased from 1.1ms-1 in the bladder empty condition to 1.0ms-1 with urgency and 0.9ms-1 with distraction (p = 0.008 and p<0.001 respectively). Stride length also decreased, from 1.2m to 1.1m with urgency and 1.0m with distraction (p<0.001 for both). The presence of detrusor overactivity did not influence these results (p = 0.77). In older adults with OAB, urinary urgency induced similar changes in gait to those caused by a distracting task. These gait changes are associated with increased fall risk. This may be part of the explanation for the association between falls and lower urinary tract symptoms in older people. Future research should examine the effect of pharmacological treatment of OAB on gait and on the effect of dual-task training on gait when experiencing urgency.

Task matters: an investigation on the effect of different secondary tasks on dual-task gait in older adults

BackgroundDual-task gait performance declines as humans age, leading to increased fall risk among older adults. It is unclear whether different secondary cognitive tasks mediate age-related decline in dual-task gait. This study aimed to examine how type and difficulty level of the secondary cognitive tasks differentially affect dual-task gait in older adults.MethodsTwenty young and twenty older adults participated in this single-session study. We employed four different types of secondary tasks and each consisted of two difficulty levels, yielding eight different dual-task conditions. The dual-task conditions included walking and 1) counting backward by 3 s or by 7 s; 2) remembering a 5-item or 7-item lists; 3) responding to a simple or choice reaction time tasks; 4) generating words from single or alternated categories. Gait speed and cognitive task performance under single- and dual-task conditions were used to compute dual-task cost (DTC, %) with a greater DTC indicating a worse performance.ResultsA significant three-way interaction was found for the gait speed DTC (p = .04). Increased difficulty in the reaction time task significantly increased gait speed DTC for older adults (p = .01) but not for young adults (p = .90). In contrast, increased difficulty level in the counting backward task significantly increased gait speed DTC for young adults (p = .03) but not for older adults (p = .85). Both groups responded similarly to the increased task difficulty in the other two tasks.ConclusionsOlder adults demonstrated a different response to dual-task challenges than young adults. Aging might have different impacts on various cognitive domains and result in distinctive dual-task gait interference patterns.

Correlation between cardiopulmonary metabolic energy cost and lower-limb muscle activity during inclined treadmill gait in older adults

BackgroundInclined walking requires more cardiopulmonary metabolic energy and muscle strength than flat-level walking. This study sought to investigate changes in lower-limb muscle activity and cardiopulmonary metabolic energy cost during treadmill walking with different inclination grades and to discern any correlation between these two measures in older adults.MethodsTwenty-four healthy older adults (n = 11 males; mean age: 75.3 ± 4.0 years) participated. All participants walked on a treadmill that was randomly inclined at 0% (condition 1), 10% (condition 2), and 16% (condition 3) for five minutes each. Simultaneous measurements of lower-limb muscle activity and cardiopulmonary metabolic energy cost during inclined treadmill walking were collected. Measured muscles included the rectus abdominis (RA), erector spinae (ES), rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), vastus medialis (VM), tibialis anterior (TA), medial head of the gastrocnemius (GCM), and soleus (SOL) muscles on the right side.ResultsAs compared with 0% inclined treadmill gait, the 10% inclined treadmill gait increased the net cardiopulmonary metabolic energy cost by 22.9%, while the 16% inclined treadmill gait increased the net cardiopulmonary metabolic energy cost by 44.2%. In the stance phase, as the slope increased, activity was significantly increased in the RA, RF, VM, BF, GCM, and SOL muscles. In the swing phase, As the slope increased activity was significantly increased in the RA, RF, VM, BF, and TA muscles. SOL muscle activity was most relevant to the change in cardiopulmonary metabolic energy cost in the stance phase of inclined treadmill walking. The relationship between the increase in cardiopulmonary metabolic energy cost and changes in muscle activity was also significant in the VM, GCM, and RF.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that changes in SOL, VM, GCM, and RA muscle activity had a significant relationship with cardiopulmonary metabolic energy cost increment during inclined treadmill walking. These results can be used as basic data for various gait-training programs and as an indicator in the development of assistive algorithms of wearable walking robots for older adults.Trial registrationClinical trials registration information: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04614857 (05/11/2020).

Topical Review: Vision and Gait in Older Adults: A Clinician’s Perspective

Gait is an important human function, and vision is the dominant sensory input used during gait. Vision aids pathfinding decisions and provide ongoing sensory feedback to maintain appropriate balance and prevent falls. Eye care providers who wish to effectively address the impact of vision impairment on the risk of falling will customize their management plan based on specific impairments. This article provides an overview of normal sensory integration as it applies to gait, with an emphasis on vision. It also presents an evidence-based review of visual dysfunctions that cause falls, as well as strategies to reduce falls in adults with visual impairment, with emphasis on patients over age 65.

Domain-specific self-perceptions of aging are associated with different gait patterns in older adults: a cross-sectional latent profile analysis

BackgroundPrevious studies have pointed to the impact of self-perceptions of aging (SPA) on self-reported physical function in later life. However, less is known about associations of SPA with objectively measured physical function, especially gait. Research that examined other psychological variables and objectively measured gait has focused on single gait parameters such as gait speed, which seems to fall short for the complexity of this movement. Some approaches have proposed ways to identify gait patterns in specific patient groups, but not in community samples. Our goal was (a) to identify gait patterns based on a combination of important gait parameters in a community sample, and (b) to investigate differential associations of gain- and loss-related SPA with these gait patterns.MethodsThe study used an electronic walkway to assess gait parameters of 150 community dwelling adults aged 71–93 years (61.0% women) at their usual and maximum gait speed. SPA were assessed with a questionnaire. We used latent profile analysis (LPA) to identify groups exhibiting distinct gait patterns and binary logistic regression to investigate associations of SPA with these groups, controlling for personality traits, number of illnesses, age, gender, and education. To compare overall function between groups, a t-test for scores in the Short Physical Performance Battery was used.ResultsLPA revealed two distinct groups in both gait speed conditions. The fit group exhibited a stable, well-coordinated and faster gait pattern, while the functionally limited group’s gait pattern was less stable, less coordinated and slower. The odds of belonging to the functionally limited group were increased by loss-related SPA at usual gait speed, while the odds of belonging to the fit group were increased by gain-related SPA at individual maximum speed.ConclusionsThe findings (a) suggest LPA as a useful approach to investigate complex gait patterns considering several gait parameters simultaneously, and (b) provide first evidence for differential associations of gain- and loss-related SPA with gait patterns at usual and maximum gait speed. Intervention studies addressing gait in older adults should additionally address gain-related views on aging.

Why Do They Fall? The Impact of Insomnia on Gait of Older Adults: A Case–Control Study

Study ObjectivesTo compare gait and cognitive performance conducted separately as a single- (ST) and simultaneously as a dual-task (DT), ie, when a cognitive task was added, among community-dwelling older adults with and without insomnia.MethodsParticipants included: 39 (28 females) community-dwelling older adults with insomnia, 34 (21 females) controls without insomnia. Subject groups were matched for age, gender, and education. Sleep quality was evaluated based on two-week actigraphy. Gait speed and cognition were assessed as ST and DT performance. DT costs (DTCs) were calculated for both tasks. Outcomes were compared via independent samples t-tests or Mann–Whitney U-tests.ResultsOlder adults with insomnia demonstrated significantly slower gait speed during ST (1 ± 0.29 vs 1.27 ± 0.17 m/s, p<0.001) and DT (0.77 ± 0.26 vs 1.14 ± 0.20 m/s, p<0.001) and fewer correct responses in the cognitive task during ST (21 ± 7 vs 27 ± 11, p=0.009) and DT (19 ± 7 vs 23 ± 9, p=0.015) compared to control group. DTC for the gait task was higher among older adults with insomnia (18.32%, IQR: 9.48–30.93 vs 7.81% IQR: 4.43–14.82, p<0.001). However, no significant difference was observed in DTC for the cognitive task (14.71%, IQR: −0.89–38.84 vs 15%, IQR: −0.89–38.84%, p=0.599).ConclusionOlder adults with insomnia have lower gait speed and poorer cognitive performance during ST and DT and an inefficient pattern of task prioritization during walking, compared to counterparts without insomnia. These findings may explain the higher risk of falls among older adults with insomnia. Geriatric professionals should be aware of potential interrelationships between sleep and gait.

Reliability of inertial sensor based spatiotemporal gait parameters for short walking bouts in community dwelling older adults

BackgroundWhen performing quantitative analysis of gait in older adults we need to strike a balance between capturing sufficient data for reliable measurement and avoiding issues such as fatigue. The optimal bout duration is that which contains sufficient gait cycles to enable a reliable and representative estimate of gait performance. Research questionHow does the number of gait cycles in a walking bout influence reliability of spatiotemporal gait parameters measured using body-worn inertial sensors in a cohort of community dwelling older adults? MethodsOne hundred and fifteen (115) community dwelling older adults executed three 30-metre walk trials in a single measurement session. Bilateral gait data were collected using two inertial sensors attached to each participant’s right and left shank, and gait events detected from the medio-lateral angular velocity signal. The number of gait cycles selected from each walking trial was varied from 3 to 16. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC(2,k)) were calculated to evaluate the reliability of each spatiotemporal gait parameter according to the number of gait cycles included in the analysis. ResultsThe specified algorithm and the clipping procedure for extracting short bouts of gait data seem appropriate for assessing older adults, providing reliable spatiotemporal measures from three gait cycles (three strides per leg) and good reliability for most parameters describing gait variability and gait asymmetry after six gait cycles (six strides per leg). SignificanceA combination of using bilateral sensor data and adaptive thresholds for gait event detection enable reliable measures of spatiotemporal gait parameters over short walking bouts (minimum six gait cycles) in community dwelling older adults. This opens new possibilities in the use of wearable sensors in gait assessment based on short walking tasks. We recommend the number of gait cycles should be reported along with the calculated measures as reference values.

Effects of Motor Imagery Training on Balance and Gait in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effects of motor imagery training on balance and gait abilities in older adults and to investigate the possible application of the training as an effective intervention against fall prevention. Subjects (n = 34) aged 65 years and over who had experienced falls were randomly allocated to three groups: (1) motor imagery training group (MITG, n = 11), (2) task-oriented training group (TOTG, n = 11), and (3) control group (CG, n = 12). Each group performed an exercise three times a week for 6 weeks. The dependent variables included Path Length of center of pressure (COP)-based static balance, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score, Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) score, which assesses a person’s mobility based on changes in both static and dynamic balance, Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) score, which evaluates changes in fear of falls, and gait parameters (velocity, cadence, step length, stride length, and H-H base support) to evaluate gait. After the intervention, Path Length, BBS, TUG, velocity, cadence, step length, and stride length showed significant increases in MITG and TOTG compared to CG (p < 0.05). Post hoc test results showed a significantly greater increase in BBS, TUG, and FES in MITG compared with TOTG and CG (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that motor imagery training combined with functional training has positive effects on balance, gait, and fall efficacy for fall prevention in the elderly.

Physical Mobility and Balance Performance Differs in Older Cancer Survivors With Impaired Executive Function

Background and Purpose: Executive function (EF) is associated with falls and impaired gait in older adults. Performance on a measure of EF, the Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B), may be able to differentiate between physical mobility and balance in older cancer survivors. The purpose of this study was to describe the demographic, disease-associated, and mobility differences in 2 groups of older cancer survivors based on the ability to complete TMT-B. Methods: Physical mobility and cognition was assessed in 50 older (aged 65+ years) cancer survivors. Group assignment was by TMT-B completion status (completers/noncompleters). Between-groups comparisons were performed on measures of physical mobility, balance, gait, and self-efficacy using nonparametric statistics. Results: Sixteen (32%) older cancer survivors were unable to complete TMT-B. Significant differences were found (P &lt; .05) on all Timed Up and Go (TUG) measures in noncompleters versus completers: TUG (12.10 seconds vs 9.28 seconds), TUG-manual (12.81 seconds vs 10.88 seconds), TUG-cognitive (14.35 seconds vs 10.98 seconds). Noncompleters had significantly worse (P &lt; .05) scores on the Short Physical Performance Battery, Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale, 30-second timed chair rise, balance confidence, falls self-efficacy, and all gait speed (usual, fast, dual-task) measures. Discussion: Older cancer survivors unable to complete TMT-B had worse performance in mobility, balance, strength, and dual-task activities that involve the increased demand of cognitive function. Executive function should be screened as a part of the falls risk management in older cancer survivors. Conclusion: Physical mobility, balance, and function are significantly more impaired in older cancers survivors who are unable to complete the TMT-B cognitive measure.