The role of gender in gait analysis in the elderly
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21504/sajg.v7i2.145Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify gender-related differences in the gait of functionally independent elderly men and women when walking at self selected walking velocity (SSWV). A quantitative gait analysis was conducted on 59 men (mean age 75.7, SD 5.8, range 69-91 years) and 127 women (mean age 75.2, SD 4.9, range 68-91 years) who could walk independently, regarded themselves to be in good health, and were independent in terms of activities of daily living. The analysis was based on foot placements in the sagittal plane recorded using a video camera. ANO VA gender comparisons revealed significant differences (p -0.0013) in all phases of walking, step length, standing height and knee length, but no significant differences in walking speed. Women were found to take shorter steps at greater frequency than men to attain the same walking velocity. When phase and step length variables were normalized to a percent of each individuals stride time (phase variables) and knee height as a measure of stature (step lengths), there were no significant gender differences. These findings suggest that at SSWV gait differences in older persons are due to stature and not to gender, and that the use of norms which are gender based may be inappropriate. Thus, the gait of elderly men and women walking at SSWV may be analysed together, provided that the step length data are normalized to stature and phase data to stride time.References
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23(3): 347-351.
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Murray, M.P., Kory, R.C. & Clarkson, B.H. 1969. Walking patterns in
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Nigg, B.M. & Skleryk, B.N. 1988. Gait characteristics of the elderly. Clinical
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Nigg, B.M., Fisher, V. & Ronsky, J.L. 1994. Gait characteristics as a function
Of age and gender. Gait & Posture, 2: 213-220.
O'Brien, M., Power, K., Sanford, S. et al. 1983. Temporal gait patterns in
healthy young and elderly females. Physiotherapy Canada, 35(6): 323
326.
Patla, A. 1997. Proactive control of dynamic balance in older adults. Paper
read at the International Conference on Ageing and Physical Activity,
Austin, Texas, September 20.
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black population: knee height as the dominant indicator of stature.
Journal o f Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 48(1): M15-M18.
Tinnetti, M.E. &Ginfer, S.F. 1988. Identifying mobility dysfunctions in elderly
patients. Journal o f the American Medical Association, 259: 1190
1193.
Vaughan, C., Damiano, D. & Abel, M. 1996. Clinical gait laboratories: how
are we doing? Biomechanics, 3(4): 69-70, 80.
VanSwearingen, J.M., Paschal, K.A., Bonino, P. et al. 1996. The modified
gait abnormality rating scale for recognising the risk of recurrent falls in
community-dwelling elderly adults. Physical Therapy, 76(9): 994-1001.
Wolfson, L., Whipple, R., Amennan, P. et al. 1990. Gait assessment in the
elderly: a gait abnormality rating scale and its relation to falls. Journal of
Gerontology, 45(1): M12-19.
for normal and abnormal gall measurements. Journal o f Biomechanics,
10:261-268.
Blanke, D.J. & Hageman, P.A. 1989. Comparison of gait of young men and
elderly men. Physical Therapy, 69: 144-148.
Buchner, D.M. & Wagner, E.H. 1992. Preventing frail health. Clinics in
Geriatric Medicine, 8(1): 1-17.
Campbell, A.J., Borne, M. J. & Spears, G.F. 1989. Risk factors for falls in
a community based prospective study of people 70 years and older,
Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 44(4): M l 12-117.
Clark, F., Azen, S.P., Zemke, R. era/, 1997. Occupational therapy for independent
living older adults: a randomised controlled trial. Journal o f the
American Medical Association, 278(16): 1321-1326.
Clark R.D., Lord S.R. & Webster I.W. 1993. Clinical parameters associated
with falls in an elderly population. Journal o f Gerontology, 39:117-127.
Cunningham, D.A., Paterson D.H., Himann, J.E. etal, 1993. Determinants
o f independence in the elderly. Canadian Journal ofApplied Physiology,
18(3): 243-254.
Dobbs, R.J., Charlett, A., Bowes, S.G. et al. 1993. Is this walk normal? Age
and Ageing, 22: 27-30.
Gaudet, G., Goodman, R., Landry, M. et al. 1990. Measurement of step
length and step width: a comparison of videotape and direct measurements.
Physiotherapy Canada, 42(1): 12-15.
Guralnik, J.M., Ferucci, L., Simonsiek, E.M. et al. 1995. Lower extremity
function in persons over the age of 70 years as a predictor of subsequent
disability. New England Journal o f Medicine, 332(9): 556-561.
Hageman, P.A. & Blanke, D.J. 1986. Comparison of gait o f young women
and elderly women. Physical Therapy, 66(9): 1382-1387.
Hausdorff, J.M., Ladin, Z. & Wei, J.Y. 1995. Footswitch system for measurement
of the temporal parameters of gait. Journal o f Biomechanics,
23(3): 347-351.
Hausdorf, J.M., Purdon, P.L., Peng, C.K. et al. 1996. Fractal dynamics of
human gait: stability of long-range correlations in stride interval fluctuations.
Journal o f Applied Physiology, 80(5): 1448-1457.
Himann, J.E., Cunningham, D.A., Rechnitzer, P,A. etal. 1988. Age-related
changes in speed of walking. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise,
20(2): 161-166.
Huberty, C. J. & Morris, J. D. 1989. Multivariate analysis versus multiple univariate
analyses. Psychological Bulletin, 105(2): 302-308.
Innas, F.J. & Edholm, O.G. 1981. Studies of gait and mobility in the elderly.
Age and Ageing, 10: 147-156,
Judge, J.O., Underwood, M, & Gennosa, T. 1993. Exercise to improve gait
velocity in older persons. Archives o f Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
74: 400-406.
Kembla, W.C. & Guo, S. 1992. Equations for predicting stature in white and
black elderly individuals. Journal o f Gerontology: Medical Sciences,
47(6): M197-M203.
Macfarlane, P.A. & Nielsen, D.H. 1996. Gait analysis: a cost and timeefficient
video method for use in the clinic or classroom. Clinical Kinesiology,
49(4): 99-105.
MacRae, P.G., Feltncr, M.E. & Reinsch, S. 1994. A 1-year exercise program
for older women: effects on falls, injuries, and physical performance.
Journal o f Ageing and Physical Activity, 2: 127-142.
Malinauskas, M. & Krouskop, T.A. 1989. Gait analysis measurement techniques.
Critical Reviews in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 1(1):
23-35.
Murray, M.P, 1967. Gait as a total pattern o f movement. American Journal o f
Physical Medicine, 46(1): 290-333.
Murray, M.P., Kory, R.C. & Clarkson, B.H. 1969. Walking patterns in
healthy old men. Journal o f Gerontology, 24: 169-178.
Nigg, B.M. & Skleryk, B.N. 1988. Gait characteristics of the elderly. Clinical
Biomechanics, 3: 79-87.
Nigg, B.M., Fisher, V. & Ronsky, J.L. 1994. Gait characteristics as a function
Of age and gender. Gait & Posture, 2: 213-220.
O'Brien, M., Power, K., Sanford, S. et al. 1983. Temporal gait patterns in
healthy young and elderly females. Physiotherapy Canada, 35(6): 323
326.
Patla, A. 1997. Proactive control of dynamic balance in older adults. Paper
read at the International Conference on Ageing and Physical Activity,
Austin, Texas, September 20.
Prothro, J.W. & Rosenbloom, C.A. 1993. Physical measurements in an elderly
black population: knee height as the dominant indicator of stature.
Journal o f Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 48(1): M15-M18.
Tinnetti, M.E. &Ginfer, S.F. 1988. Identifying mobility dysfunctions in elderly
patients. Journal o f the American Medical Association, 259: 1190
1193.
Vaughan, C., Damiano, D. & Abel, M. 1996. Clinical gait laboratories: how
are we doing? Biomechanics, 3(4): 69-70, 80.
VanSwearingen, J.M., Paschal, K.A., Bonino, P. et al. 1996. The modified
gait abnormality rating scale for recognising the risk of recurrent falls in
community-dwelling elderly adults. Physical Therapy, 76(9): 994-1001.
Wolfson, L., Whipple, R., Amennan, P. et al. 1990. Gait assessment in the
elderly: a gait abnormality rating scale and its relation to falls. Journal of
Gerontology, 45(1): M12-19.
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