OBJECTIVES: Gait variability is an important indicator of impaired mobility in older adults; however, little is known about the meaning of change in gait variability over time. This study estimated clinically meaningful change in measures of gait variability using both distribution- and anchor-based approaches. DESIGN: Community-based observational cohort study. SETTING: Bronx County and the research center at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. PARTICIPANTS: Of 1148 participants in the Einstein Aging Study, 241 had quantitative gait assessments in two consecutive years between 2001 and 2005. MEASUREMENTS: Gait variables were collected using a 12-foot instrumented walkway as participants walked at their normal walking speed. Gait variability was defined as the within-person standard deviation (SD) across steps in two 12-foot walks. Distribution-based meaningful change estimates used Cohen's effect size (0.2 for small and 0.5 for moderate effects). Anchor-based estimates were obtained using dichotomous and ordinal self-reported walking ability ratings as anchors. RESULTS: Distribution-based estimates for small and substantial changes of variability measures were: stance time 0.005 and 0.014 s; swing time 0.003 and 0.009 s; step length 0.24 and 0.61 cm; and step width 0.03 and 0.08 cm. Among those reporting no change in walking ability, measures of gait variability were stable over 1 year. Among those reporting a decline in walking, stance time and swing time variability increased. Among those reporting an improvement in walking, only step length variability improved. CONCLUSION: Preliminary criteria for meaningful change are 0.01 s for stance time and swing time variability and 0.25 cm for step length variability. These estimates may identify important changes over time in both clinical settings and research studies. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
OBJECTIVES: Gait variability is an important indicator of impaired mobility in older adults; however, little is known about the meaning of change in gait variability over time. This study estimated clinically meaningful change in measures of gait variability using both distribution- and anchor-based approaches. DESIGN: Community-based observational cohort study. SETTING: Bronx County and the research center at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. PARTICIPANTS: Of 1148 participants in the Einstein Aging Study, 241 had quantitative gait assessments in two consecutive years between 2001 and 2005. MEASUREMENTS: Gait variables were collected using a 12-foot instrumented walkway as participants walked at their normal walking speed. Gait variability was defined as the within-person standard deviation (SD) across steps in two 12-foot walks. Distribution-based meaningful change estimates used Cohen's effect size (0.2 for small and 0.5 for moderate effects). Anchor-based estimates were obtained using dichotomous and ordinal self-reported walking ability ratings as anchors. RESULTS: Distribution-based estimates for small and substantial changes of variability measures were: stance time 0.005 and 0.014 s; swing time 0.003 and 0.009 s; step length 0.24 and 0.61 cm; and step width 0.03 and 0.08 cm. Among those reporting no change in walking ability, measures of gait variability were stable over 1 year. Among those reporting a decline in walking, stance time and swing time variability increased. Among those reporting an improvement in walking, only step length variability improved. CONCLUSION: Preliminary criteria for meaningful change are 0.01 s for stance time and swing time variability and 0.25 cm for step length variability. These estimates may identify important changes over time in both clinical settings and research studies. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Authors: Joe Verghese; Herman Buschke; Lisa Viola; Mindy Katz; Charles Hall; Gail Kuslansky; Richard Lipton Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2002-09 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Jennifer S Brach; Stephanie Studenski; Subashan Perera; Jessie M VanSwearingen; Anne B Newman Journal: Gait Posture Date: 2007-07-13 Impact factor: 2.840
Authors: Caterina Rosano; Howard Aizenstein; Jennifer Brach; Allison Longenberger; Stephanie Studenski; Anne B Newman Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2008-12 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Ha T Nguyen; Stephen B Kritchevsky; Judy L Foxworth; Sara A Quandt; Phillip Summers; Francis O Walker; Thomas A Arcury Journal: J Agromedicine Date: 2015 Impact factor: 1.675
Authors: Drew W R Halliday; Sandra R Hundza; Mauricio A Garcia-Barrera; Marc Klimstra; Drew Commandeur; Timothy V Lukyn; Robert S Stawski; Stuart W S MacDonald Journal: J Clin Exp Neuropsychol Date: 2017-05-31 Impact factor: 2.475