Eric G James1, Phillip Conatser2, Murat Karabulut2, Suzanne G Leveille3, Jeffrey M Hausdorff4, Thomas Travison5, Jonathan F Bean6. 1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. Electronic address: Eric.James@UTSouthwestern.edu. 2. Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, Texas. 3. College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts. 4. Center for the Study of Movement, Cognition and Mobility, Neurological Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Physical Therapy, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. 5. Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew Senior Life, Boston, Massachusetts. 6. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine if poorer gait variability and gait coordination among mobility-limited older adults is related to their slower walking speed. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. SETTING: University research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling adults (N=69) 68 years or older with (Short Physical Performance Battery score ≤9; n=37) and without (n=32) mobility limitations. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The variability of step length, swing time percent, and step width. Gait coordination was assessed along with the Phase Coordination Index. RESULTS: The usual pace gait speed of those without mobility limitations was faster (1.22±0.14m/s vs 0.71±0.14m/s; P<.001) and less variable in all gait characteristics (all P<.001), with the exception of step width (P=.185), than those with limitations. When those without limitations slowed their walking pace (0.71m/s±0.14), their gait coordination became poorer (P<.001), and the variability of all gait characteristics increased (all P<.001) except for step width, which decreased (P=.002). When those without mobility limitations walked at a slow pace, they had better gait coordination (P=.008) and less variable step length (P=.014) and swing time percent (P=.036). The variability of stride time (P=.260) and step width (P=.385) were not significantly different than that of their peers with limitations. CONCLUSIONS: Increased variability in some gait characteristics of mobility-limited older adults appears to be related to their slower walking speed. Gait coordination and the variability of step length and swing time percent may reflect intrinsic differences in mobility-limited older adults that are independent of walking speed.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if poorer gait variability and gait coordination among mobility-limited older adults is related to their slower walking speed. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. SETTING: University research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling adults (N=69) 68 years or older with (Short Physical Performance Battery score ≤9; n=37) and without (n=32) mobility limitations. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The variability of step length, swing time percent, and step width. Gait coordination was assessed along with the Phase Coordination Index. RESULTS: The usual pace gait speed of those without mobility limitations was faster (1.22±0.14m/s vs 0.71±0.14m/s; P<.001) and less variable in all gait characteristics (all P<.001), with the exception of step width (P=.185), than those with limitations. When those without limitations slowed their walking pace (0.71m/s±0.14), their gait coordination became poorer (P<.001), and the variability of all gait characteristics increased (all P<.001) except for step width, which decreased (P=.002). When those without mobility limitations walked at a slow pace, they had better gait coordination (P=.008) and less variable step length (P=.014) and swing time percent (P=.036). The variability of stride time (P=.260) and step width (P=.385) were not significantly different than that of their peers with limitations. CONCLUSIONS: Increased variability in some gait characteristics of mobility-limited older adults appears to be related to their slower walking speed. Gait coordination and the variability of step length and swing time percent may reflect intrinsic differences in mobility-limited older adults that are independent of walking speed.