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- Title
Comparison of gait patterns in elderly fallers and non-fallers.
- Authors
Kwon, Moon-Seok; Kwon, Yu-Ri; Park, Yang-Sun; Kim, Ji-Won; Gómez; Schwarzacher; Zhou
- Abstract
Gait is associated with an important risk factor of falls in the elderly. It is important to find differences of quantitative gait variables between fallers and non-fallers. The aim of this study was to investigate gait patterns in elderly fallers and non-fallers. Thirty-eight fallers and 38 non-fallers of similar age and height participated in this study. Subjects walked across the GaitRite walkway at self-selected comfortable speeds. Spatio-temporal gait variables were measured to characterize gait patterns. Kinetic variables were derived from normalized vertical ground reaction force (GRF). Independent t-tests were performed to compare the fallers with the non-fallers. The fallers walked more slowly with shorter steps and more variable step times than the non-fallers (p< 0.05). The fallers showed a longer stance phase with increased double-limb support than the non-fallers (p< 0.05). The times to reach maximal weight acceptance and mid-stance of the fallers were significantly longer than those of the non-fallers (p< 0.05). These results suggest that spatio-temporal variables and GRF variables would be useful for distinguishing prospective fallers from non-fallers among the elderly.
- Subjects
GAIT in humans; GAIT disorders; GROUND reaction forces (Biomechanics); OLDER people; DISEASE risk factors; POSTURAL balance; ACCIDENTAL falls; KINEMATICS; TIME; BODY mass index
- Publication
Technology & Health Care, 2018, Vol 26, p427
- ISSN
0928-7329
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.3233/THC-174736