Age-Associated Gait Changes in the Elderly: Pathological or Physiological?

Abstract

Aim: To examine the role of disease-related factors and age-related physiological changes in affecting gait speed and stride length in the elderly. Subjects: 925 men and 890 women aged 70 years and above who were ambulant, recruited by random sampling stratified according to age and sex, from all recipients of Old Age and Disability Allowance in Hong Kong. Design: Gait was assessed by measuring the time taken the number of steps required to complete a 16-foot walk. Information on health functional status cognitive function depressive symptoms was collected anthropometric indices obtained. Factors affecting walking speed stride were examined in the overall population also after excluding those with physical disability or diseases. Results: Results were analyzed separately for men and women since mean walking speed was slower in women who also took a larger number of steps. Age coexisting disease leg or back pain poor vision low level of physical activity functional cognitive impairment high depressive symptom score anthropometric indices were all negatively associated with walking speed. Fallers also had slower speed. After excluding those with diseases or physical impairment multivariate analysis showed that the only factors affecting speed were age in men, and age, height, and level of physical activity in women. Age and height were factors associated with stride length in men, and height only for women. Conclusion: Both diseased-elated factors as well as age-related physiological changes contribute to the decline in walking speed stride length.

Relationship of Neurological Function and Age in Older Women

“…In another cohort of highfunctioning men and women aged 70-79 years, Seeman et al [2] showed that declines in physical performance (including measures of neurological function) were predicted by older age, lower income, higher education, relative weight and blood pressure, lower peak expiratory flow, diabetes, and other health conditions and hospitalizations. Some investigators [22,23], but not all [24], have found a relationship between increased frequency of falling and neurological characteristics.…”

A Study on the Effects of Argentine Tango as a Form of Partnered Dance for those with Parkinson Disease and the Healthy Elderly

“…Gait changes associated with aging include decreased gait speed, decreased stride length, increased double support time, and increased width of the base of support (Woo et al 1995;Dobbs et al 1993;Elble et al 1991). These changes are more pronounced in individuals who are fearful of falling (Chamberlin et al 2005).…”

The Influence of Back Pain on Balance and Functional Mobility in 65- to 75-Year-Old Women with Osteoporosis

“…Although back pain is often reported as a consequence of osteoporosis, its prevalence in this population is not established. Furthermore, while there is some evidence to suggest that back pain influences balance [6,7] and functional mobility [8] in other populations, the effects of back pain have not been examined previously in individuals with osteoporosis. Studies [6,7] examining the effects of pain on balance have found that adults with chronic low back pain had greater standing postural sway compared with healthy controls.…”

“…Increased postural sway has been associated with the propensity to fall [9]. Woo et al [8] also found that increased back pain is associated with reduced gait speed in older adults without osteoporosis.…”