Non-age-related gait kinematics and kinetics in the elderly

Abstract

Background The change of gait kinematics and kinetics along aging were reported to indicate age-related gait patterns. However, few studies focus on non-age-related gait analysis. This study aims to explore the non-age-related gait kinematics and kinetics by comparing gait analysis outcomes among the healthy elderly and young subjects. Methods Gait analysis at self-paced was conducted on 12 healthy young subjects and 8 healthy elderly subjects. Kinematic and kinetic features of ankle, knee and hip joints were analyzed and compared in two groups. The degree of variation between the young and elderly in each kinematic or kinetic feature was calculated from pattern distance and percentage of significant difference. The k-means clustering and Elbow Method were applied to select and validate non-age-related features. The average waveforms with standard deviation were plotted for the comparison of the results. Results A total of five kinematic and five kinetic features were analyzed on ankle, knee and hip joints in healthy young and elderly groups. The degrees of variation in ankle moment, knee angle, hip flexion angle, and hip adduction moment were 0.1074, 0.1593, 0.1407, and 0.1593, respectively. The turning point was where the k value equals two. The clustering centers were 0.1417 and 0.3691, and the two critical values closest to the cutoff were 0.1593 and 0.3037. The average waveforms of the kinematic or kinetic features mentioned above were highly overlapped with a minor standard deviation between the healthy young and elderly but showed larger variations between the healthy and abnormal. Conclusions The cluster with a minor degree of variation in kinematic and kinetic features between the young and elderly were identified as non-age-related, including ankle moment, knee angle, hip flexion angle, and hip adduction moment. Non-age-related gait kinematics and kinetics are essential indicators for gait with normal function, which is essential in the evaluation of mobility and functional ability of the elderly, and data fusion of the assistant device.

Biomechanics of Gait in the Elderly: A Literature Review

“…This study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the biomechanics underlying the gait of elderly individuals and its changes related to aging and the risks caused by these changes, including falling while walking. The results of our studies showed that changes would occur in both kinetics (19-23, 29, 30) and walking kinematics (19,21,22,24,(28)(29)(30) in old age.…”

“…From the total of 12 articles that were included in this study, five articles were related to the investigations of both kinematics and kinetics of walking in the elderly (19,21,22,29,30), five articles of kinematic investigations (24)(25)(26)(27)(28), and two articles also included a kinetic study of the walking of the elderly (20,23), three studies on shoes and types of surfaces (20,24,29), two articles on electromyographic studies on lower limbs while walking (23,28), three articles on maintaining postural stability and balance and falling during elderly walking (22,27,30), one article about speed and balance (19), one article about the impact on walking parameters in the elderly (26), and two articles about the characteristics of lower limb joints during walking (21,25).…”

“…In the elderly, chronological age cannot always be a complete guide for trainers and caregivers in the direction of physical assessment and care and exercise programs for the elderly, but in addition, it will be necessary to personalize the assessments based on individual characteristics. Kinematics and kinetics of age-independent factors of walking serve as fundamental guidelines for ambulating with routine functionality and are critical in evaluating the mobility and functional capacity of older adults (21). The preservation of an individual's ability to avoid falls holds a critical significance for fostering optimal life expectancy and promoting sustainable healthcare systems.…”