Gait In Older People Research Articles

A population-based study of sensorimotor factors affecting gait in older people

the study of factors associated with age-related gait decline may assist in developing methods to preserve mobility in older people. to examine the associations between sensorimotor factors relevant to ageing and gait in the general older population. cross-sectional population-based study. participants aged 60-86 years (n = 278) were randomly selected using electoral roll sampling. Sensorimotor factors (quadriceps strength, reaction time, postural sway, proprioception and visual contrast sensitivity) were measured using the Physiological Profile Assessment. Gait variables (speed, cadence, step length, double support phase and step width) were recorded with a GAITRite walkway. Linear regression was used to model relationships between sensorimotor and gait variables. mean age of participants was 72.4 (7.0) years with 154 (55%) males. Better quadriceps strength, reaction time and postural sway (in men) predicted faster gait speed due to their effects on step length and/or cadence. Body weight (in men) and visual contrast sensitivity (in women) were modifying factors in these relationships. Better postural sway, reaction time (in men) and quadriceps strength (in women) predicted reduced double support phase. Modifying factors were quadriceps strength (in men) and proprioception (in women). Postural sway was the sole predictor of step width and in women only. potentially modifiable sensorimotor factors were associated with a range of gait measures, with a different pattern of individual associations and interactions seen between the sexes. These results provide further mechanistic insights towards explaining age-related gait decline in the general older population.

Performance-Related Values for Gait Velocity, Timed Up-and-Go and Functional Reach in Healthy Older People and Institutionalized Geriatric Patients

The principal aim of this study was to measure balance ability in healthy older persons (n = 26) and institutionalized geriatric patients (n = 19) by two commonly used tests. A secondary aim was to investigate the relationship between balance and gait within the same groups.Timed Up-and-Go (TUG), Functional Reach (FR), gait velocity, step length, step width, and cadence were measured.The performance in TUG, FR, and gait velocity got worse in the older age groups; this worsened performance was related to both age and state of ill-health.Gait velocity was significantly correlated to TUG and FR in both healthy older people (r = −0.67; r = 0.78) and geriatric patients (r = −0.57; r = 0.50), and to step length and cadence in both groups.The high correlation of gait velocity to FR in healthy older people and to step length and cadence in both groups indicates that clinical assessment of balance and gait in older people should include all three measurements.

Performance-Related Values for Gait Velocity, Timed Up-and-Go and Functional Reach in Healthy Older People and Institutionalized Geriatric Patients

The principal aim of this study was to measure balance ability in healthy older persons (n = 26) and institutionalized geriatric patients (n = 19) by two commonly used tests. A secondary aim was to investigate the relationship between balance and gait within the same groups.Timed Up-and-Go (TUG), Functional Reach (FR), gait velocity, step length, step width, and cadence were measured.The performance in TUG, FR, and gait velocity got worse in the older age groups; this worsened performance was related to both age and state of ill-health.Gait velocity was significantly correlated to TUG and FR in both healthy older people (r = −0.67; r = 0.78) and geriatric patients (r = −0.57; r = 0.50), and to step length and cadence in both groups.The high correlation of gait velocity to FR in healthy older people and to step length and cadence in both groups indicates that clinical assessment of balance and gait in older people should include all three measurements.