Silva Jullyanne, Atalaia Tiago, Martins Rodrigo, Abrantes Joao, Aleixo Pedro
Centro de Investigação em Desporto, Educação Física, Exercício e Saúde (CIDEFES), Universidade Lusófona, Av. do Campo Grande, 3761749-024, Lisbon, Portugal.
Physiotherapy, Escola Superior de Saúde da Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa, Av. de Ceuta 1 Edifício Urbiceuta, 1300-125, Lisbon, Portugal.
Curr Aging Sci. 2025;18(1):59-72. doi: 10.2174/0118746098315374240508094923.
There is limited research on the changes that can occur in the gait biomechanical parameters of older adults over long-distance walking. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the gait characteristics of older women of a specific Portuguese community over the six-minute walk test (6MWT) along with gait spatial and temporal parameters and angular kinematics of the lower limb joints.
Twenty-six older women voluntarily participated. Each woman performed the 6MWT, and during this, their spatial and temporal parameters were collected through plantar pressure data (100Hz) and angular kinematics through an inertial sensor system (100Hz). The 6MWT was divided into four intervals, and the Friedman test was used to compare them. The median age of the women was calculated, and the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare women above and below the median age value.
An increase in gait speed, stance phase, and double stance phase along the intervals was observed, as well as larger angular displacements of the hip, knee, and ankle (p<0.05). Women below or above the median age value also yielded these behaviours. Gait speed, cadence, stride length, and step length were higher in women below the median age value, while stride and step duration were lower (p<0.05).
Older women yielded changes in gait spatial and temporal parameters along the 6MWT, as well as larger angular displacements of the lower limb joints. Older women (compared to younger ones) yielded lower gait speed, cadence, stride length, and step length, higher stance and double stance phases, and shorter angular displacements of the lower limb joints.
关于老年人长距离行走时步态生物力学参数变化的研究有限。因此，本研究旨在评估特定葡萄牙社区老年女性在六分钟步行试验（6MWT）中的步态特征，以及步态的空间和时间参数与下肢关节的角运动学。
26名老年女性自愿参与。每位女性进行6MWT，在此期间，通过足底压力数据（100Hz）收集其空间和时间参数，并通过惯性传感器系统（100Hz）收集角运动学数据。6MWT分为四个区间，采用弗里德曼检验进行比较。计算女性的年龄中位数，采用曼-惠特尼检验比较年龄高于和低于中位数年龄值的女性。
观察到各区间的步态速度、站立相和双支撑相增加，以及髋、膝和踝关节的角位移增大（p<0.05）。年龄低于或高于中位数年龄值的女性也呈现出这些行为。年龄低于中位数年龄值的女性的步态速度、步频、步幅和步长较高，而步幅和步长持续时间较低（p<0.05）。
老年女性在6MWT过程中步态的空间和时间参数发生变化，以及下肢关节的角位移增大。老年女性（与年轻女性相比）的步态速度、步频、步幅和步长较低，站立相和双支撑相较高，下肢关节的角位移较短。
