BACKGROUND: the study of factors associated with age-related gait decline may assist in developing methods to preserve mobility in older people. OBJECTIVE: to examine the associations between sensorimotor factors relevant to ageing and gait in the general older population. DESIGN: cross-sectional population-based study. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
BACKGROUND: the study of factors associated with age-related gait decline may assist in developing methods to preserve mobility in older people. OBJECTIVE: to examine the associations between sensorimotor factors relevant to ageing and gait in the general older population. DESIGN: cross-sectional population-based study. METHODS: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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.
Authors: Stephanie Studenski; Subashan Perera; Kushang Patel; Caterina Rosano; Kimberly Faulkner; Marco Inzitari; Jennifer Brach; Julie Chandler; Peggy Cawthon; Elizabeth Barrett Connor; Michael Nevitt; Marjolein Visser; Stephen Kritchevsky; Stefania Badinelli; Tamara Harris; Anne B Newman; Jane Cauley; Luigi Ferrucci; Jack Guralnik Journal: JAMA Date: 2011-01-05 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Maren S Fragala; Dawn E Alley; Michelle D Shardell; Tamara B Harris; Robert R McLean; Douglas P Kiel; Peggy M Cawthon; Thuy-Tien L Dam; Luigi Ferrucci; Jack M Guralnik; Stephen B Kritchevsky; Maria T Vassileva; Vilmunder Gudnason; Gudny Eiriksdottir; Annemarie Koster; Anne Newman; Kristin Siggeirsdottir; Suzanne Satterfield; Stephanie A Studenski; Anne M Kenny Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2016-01 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: G Abellan van Kan; Y Rolland; S Andrieu; J Bauer; O Beauchet; M Bonnefoy; M Cesari; L M Donini; S Gillette Guyonnet; M Inzitari; F Nourhashemi; G Onder; P Ritz; A Salva; M Visser; B Vellas Journal: J Nutr Health Aging Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 4.075
Authors: V J A Verlinden; A Maksimovic; S S Mirza; M A Ikram; J C Kiefte-de Jong; A Hofman; O H Franco; H Tiemeier; J N van der Geest Journal: Eur J Clin Nutr Date: 2015-07-29 Impact factor: 4.016
Authors: Rajshree Mootanah; Jinsup Song; Mark W Lenhoff; Jocelyn F Hafer; Sherry I Backus; David Gagnon; Jonathan T Deland; Howard J Hillstrom Journal: Gait Posture Date: 2012-10-26 Impact factor: 2.840