Hirano Yuji, Yamada Yoji, Akiyama Yasuhiro, Nakamura Hibiki, Matsui Yasumoto
National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology: 7-430 Morioka-cho, Obu-shi, Aichi 474-8511, Japan.
Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University, Japan.
J Phys Ther Sci. 2024 Feb;36(2):87-93. doi: 10.1589/jpts.36.87. Epub 2024 Feb 1.
[Purpose] This study aimed to verify the usefulness of an inertial measurement unit and compare the gait of frail and robust older adults. [Participants and Methods] Six participants (three males and three females) in their 80s were diagnosed as frail or robust according to Japanese Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. Using an inertial measurement unit, we measured parameters associated with the sole clearance and center of gravity shift. We then calculated the margin of stability in two directions. [Results] The gait analysis of both groups was reliable, as intraclass correlation coefficient values were comparable to the measurement accuracy of the inertial measurement unit achieved in a previous study of young participants. The results revealed that the sole clearance during the swing phase tended to be lower in frail than robust participants; moreover, the center of mass shift tended to be small and step width wide in frail participants, whereas the center of mass shift tended to be large in robust participants. [Conclusion] Our findings are expected to contribute to gait training in rehabilitation programs for older frail adults, the development of welfare equipment such as walking aids for frail elderly individuals, and the establishment of the reliability of inertial measurement unit use.
[目的]本研究旨在验证惯性测量单元的实用性，并比较体弱和健壮老年人的步态。[参与者与方法]根据日本心血管健康研究标准，选取6名80多岁的参与者（3名男性和3名女性），诊断为体弱或健壮。使用惯性测量单元，我们测量了与足底间隙和重心转移相关的参数。然后我们计算了两个方向上的稳定性裕度。[结果]两组的步态分析都是可靠的，因为组内相关系数值与先前对年轻参与者的研究中惯性测量单元的测量精度相当。结果显示，在摆动期，体弱参与者的足底间隙往往低于健壮参与者；此外，体弱参与者的重心转移往往较小，步幅较宽，而健壮参与者的重心转移往往较大。[结论]我们的研究结果有望为体弱老年人康复项目中的步态训练、为体弱老年人开发如助行器等福利设备以及确立惯性测量单元使用的可靠性做出贡献。
