In:
Gerontology, S. Karger AG, Vol. 59, No. 2 ( 2013), p. 165-173
Kurzfassung:
〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Background: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 Gait changes at older ages are a strong predictor of a decline in lower extremity functions. However, large population-based studies assessing gait parameters in various gait tasks are lacking. 〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Objective: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 We investigated the relationship of age, the use of mobility aids and being fitted with an endoprosthesis with selected gait parameters, assessed in different walking tasks. 〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Methods: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 In the population-based KORA-Age study, data from 907 men and women aged 65-91 years were obtained using the validated electronic walkway system GAITRite, which quantifies spatiotemporal gait parameters in the measurement range of a 488 × 61 cm walkway mat. Participants completed three walking tasks at different speeds (normal, slow and fast) and a fourth walking task at normal speed with the additional task of counting backwards (dual-task walking). Additionally, the impact of endoprostheses (hip or knee) and mobility aids was assessed. 〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Results: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 The highest relative age-related decline for velocity was observed during dual-task walking (26.1% for men and 23.4% for women) and for step length during fast walking (20.2 and 14.4%) when comparing participants aged 〈 70 years with those aged ≥85 years. Weaker performances for velocity, cadence and step length were observed among women with knee or hip endoprostheses (fast walking speed) (p 〈 0.05). Across all walking tasks, significant differences between mobility aid users and nonusers were observed for velocity and step length among both men and women (p 〈 0.05). 〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Conclusion: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 A decline in gait performance is most notable in fast speed and dual-task walking, in age-related endoprosthesis and mobility aid analyses. The marked relative decrease in gait parameters in these difficult gait tasks may be attributed to lacking resources for compensation among the elderly.
Materialart:
Online-Ressource
ISSN:
0304-324X
,
1423-0003
Sprache:
Englisch
Verlag:
S. Karger AG
Publikationsdatum:
2013
ZDB Id:
1482689-6
