University of Basel, Institute of Exercise and Health Sciences, Birsstr. 320B, 4052 Basel, Switzerland.
Gait Posture. 2012 Jul;36(3):444-8. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2012.04.003. Epub 2012 May 1.
The present study aimed at assessing the between- and within-day-variability of temporal and spatial gait characteristics during treadmill walking in community-dwelling seniors. In 20 active, healthy seniors (10 women, 10 men, age: 64.8 (SD 3.2) years, height: 1.70 (0.10) m, weight: 69.7 (10.9) kg, physical activity: 11 (6) h week(-1)) gait characteristics were assessed on three days in weekly intervals (between-day variability). Either on days two or three, testing was repeated 30 min after the initial trial (within-day variability). We determined routine spatio-temporal gait parameters as well as gait variability during 400 steps at a normal walking speed (5.0 (0.4) km h(-1)) on a one-dimensional ground reaction force measuring treadmill. No significant mean differences occurred in any parameter for between- and within-day comparisons. Between-day ICC were high (ICC≥0.86) for most parameters except for temporal (ICC=0.44) and spatial (ICC=0.22) gait variability. Coefficients of variation (CoV) were also high in the latter parameters (CoV=30.2-36.1%), whereas all other variables showed clearly lower values (CoV<7%). CoV were still lower between days 2 and 3 (CoV<5%). Compared to between-day comparisons, within-day variability was comparable in spatio-temporal gait parameters (CoV<5%, ICC≥0.97) and lower in gait variability parameters (CoV<18%, ICC≥0.72-0.74). In conclusion, most gait parameters were highly reliable during treadmill walking. Changes of less than 10% can be detected with sufficient confidence. Gait variability parameters were less reliable and, thus, should be carefully interpreted.
本研究旨在评估社区居住的老年人在跑步机上行走时的时间和空间步态特征的日内和日内变异性。在 20 名活跃、健康的老年人（10 名女性，10 名男性，年龄：64.8（3.2）岁，身高：1.70（0.10）m，体重：69.7（10.9）kg，身体活动：11（6）h 周（-1））在每周间隔的三天内评估步态特征（日内变异性）。在第二天或第三天，在初始试验后 30 分钟重复测试（日内变异性）。我们在一维地面反力测量跑步机上以正常步行速度（5.0（0.4）km h（-1））确定了常规时空步态参数以及 400 步的步态变异性。在任何参数的日内和日内比较中，都没有出现显著的平均差异。大多数参数的日内 ICC 较高（ICC≥0.86），除了时间（ICC=0.44）和空间（ICC=0.22）步态变异性。后两个参数的变异系数（CV）也很高（CV=30.2-36.1%），而所有其他变量的 CV 值明显较低（CV<7%）。在第 2 天和第 3 天之间，CV 值仍较低（CV<5%）。与日间比较相比，时空步态参数的日内变异性相当（CV<5%，ICC≥0.97），步态变异性参数的日内变异性较低（CV<18%，ICC≥0.72-0.74）。总之，在跑步机上行走时，大多数步态参数具有高度可靠性。可以以足够的信心检测到小于 10%的变化。步态变异性参数的可靠性较低，因此应谨慎解释。
