Scaglioni-Solano Pietro, Aragón-Vargas Luis Fernando
Human Movement Research Center (CIMOHU), Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Educación Física y Deportes, Universidad de Costa Rica, 11-501-2060 Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica; Mechanical Engineering School, Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Educación Física y Deportes, Universidad de Costa Rica, 11-501-2060 Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica.
Human Movement Research Center (CIMOHU), Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Educación Física y Deportes, Universidad de Costa Rica, 11-501-2060 Montes de Oca, San José, Costa Rica.
Gait Posture. 2015 Jun;42(1):54-9. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2015.04.002. Epub 2015 Apr 18.
Despite the general perception that women and men walk differently, little is known about the reasons for these differences, especially in older adults. Previous work on gender differences in older adults has focused on spatiotemporal parameters. This study aims to assess gender-related differences in gait spatiotemporal and quality parameters when walking on a flat walkway at two different self-selected speeds: comfortable and fast. Sensorimotor abilities (Strength, agility, standing balance, reaction time) were also compared by gender, and gender-specific associations between spatiotemporal and sensorimotor parameters and gait quality were studied. Two tri-axial accelerometers were used at head and pelvis levels to investigate spatiotemporal parameters (step length, velocity and cadence), and gait quality (harmonic ratios (HR) and attenuation of accelerations between body levels) in 122 older adults (90 women, 69.7±5.1 y.o. and 32 men, 71.6±6.4 y.o.). Both men and women walked with similar speed; however women presented faster cadence and shorter steps than men at both walking speeds. Women also walked with greater vertical HR (head and pelvis), mediolateral pelvis HR, and attenuation (mediolateral and anteroposterior) than men. Women had better control of standing balance on foam (eyes open and closed) and tandem test. Moreover, balance on foam, tandem test, step length and cadence were associated to gender-specific gait quality parameters. The aging process seems to be affecting men and women differently, thus, gender differences should be considered when preparing intervention programs to improve balance and gait in older populations or when establishing normative data for balance and gait in older adults.
尽管人们普遍认为女性和男性的行走方式不同，但对于这些差异的原因却知之甚少，尤其是在老年人中。先前关于老年人性别差异的研究主要集中在时空参数上。本研究旨在评估在平坦人行道上以两种不同的自我选择速度行走时，步态时空参数和质量参数方面的性别差异，这两种速度分别是舒适速度和快速速度。还比较了不同性别的感觉运动能力（力量、敏捷性、站立平衡、反应时间），并研究了时空参数与感觉运动参数和步态质量之间的性别特异性关联。使用两个三轴加速度计分别置于头部和骨盆水平，以研究122名老年人（90名女性，年龄69.7±5.1岁；32名男性，年龄71.6±6.4岁）的时空参数（步长、速度和步频）以及步态质量（谐波比（HR）和身体各水平之间加速度的衰减）。男性和女性的行走速度相似；然而，在两种行走速度下，女性的步频都比男性快，步长比男性短。女性在垂直方向（头部和骨盆）、骨盆中外侧方向的HR以及衰减（中外侧和前后方向）方面也比男性更大。女性在睁眼和闭眼时在泡沫上的站立平衡以及在串联试验中的表现更好。此外，在泡沫上的平衡、串联试验、步长和步频与特定性别的步态质量参数相关。衰老过程似乎对男性和女性的影响不同，因此，在制定改善老年人群平衡和步态的干预方案时，或者在建立老年人平衡和步态的规范数据时，应考虑性别差异。
