Almarwani Maha, VanSwearingen Jessie M, Perera Subashan, Sparto Patrick J, Brach Jennifer S
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2016 Sep-Oct;66:54-61. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2016.05.001. Epub 2016 May 9.
Gait variability is a measure of motor control of gait. Little is known about age-related changes in the motor control of gait (gait variability) during challenging walking conditions, such as slower and faster pace walking.
The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of challenging walking conditions (slower and faster speeds) on gait variability in younger and older adults.
This study was a cross-sectional, observational design.
Forty younger (mean age=26.6±6.0years) and 111 community-dwelling older adults (mean age=77.3±6.0years), independent in ambulation, were studied. Gait characteristics were collected using a computerized walkway (GaitMat II™). Step length, step width, step time, swing time, stance time and double support time variability were derived as the standard deviation of all steps across the 4 passes.
Compared to younger, older adults had a significant change in their gait variability from usual to slower in step width (-0.006±0.003), step time (0.028±0.006), swing time (0.023±0.004), stance time (0.042±0.008), and double support time (0.024±0.005). Changes in gait variability from usual to faster were not significantly different between younger and older adults.
Gait variability was examined during self-selected over-ground walking, where subjects directed to walk "slower", "usual" and "faster".
Walking slowly is more challenging to the motor control of gait and may be more sensitive to age-related declines in gait than usual and faster speed walks.
步态变异性是步态运动控制的一种度量。对于在具有挑战性的步行条件下，如较慢和较快步速行走时，步态运动控制（步态变异性）中与年龄相关的变化知之甚少。
本研究的目的是检验具有挑战性的步行条件（较慢和较快速度）对年轻人和老年人步态变异性的影响。
本研究为横断面观察性设计。
研究了40名年轻人（平均年龄=26.6±6.0岁）和111名社区居住的老年人（平均年龄=77.3±6.0岁），他们均能独立行走。使用计算机化步道（GaitMat II™）收集步态特征。步长、步宽、步时、摆动时间、站立时间和双支撑时间变异性通过4次行走过程中所有步长的标准差得出。
与年轻人相比，老年人在从正常步速到较慢步速时，步宽（-0.006±0.003）、步时（0.028±0.006）、摆动时间（0.023±0.004）、站立时间（0.042±0.008）和双支撑时间（0.024±0.005）的步态变异性有显著变化。年轻人和老年人在从正常步速到较快步速时步态变异性的变化无显著差异。
在自选的地面行走过程中检查步态变异性，受试者被要求以“较慢”“正常”和“较快”的速度行走。
慢走对步态运动控制更具挑战性，并且可能比正常和快走对与年龄相关的步态下降更敏感。
