kinematic study of gait patterns in healthy, elderly women

Abstract

This was a descriptive study using high speed cinematography and a dynamic pedigraph system to analyze 18 kinematic variables associated with gait in a sample of 15 healthy, elderly women, Two trials of each S (mean age 70.3) were filmed, one at normal (free) and the other-at a fast pace. TI1e variables analyzed were velocity, cadence, step length, step width, stride length, foot angle, stride length to body height ratio, cycle duration, stance time, swing time, double support time, swing to stance ratio, patterns of sagittal excursion for the hip, knee and ankle, and mean angular velocity occurring at the hip, knee and ankle throughout the gait cycle. Mean values and standard deviations for thd sample at each speed were presented. This study tends to support previous works that reported decreased step and stride lengths, increased temporal variables and decreased velocity of gait with aging, Patterns of lower extremity motion in the sagittal plane were consistent with that of younger samples, At faster walking speeds, many kinematic variables of gait approached those given as representative of normal gait in a younger sample.