Effects of walking over uneven surfaces and crossing an obstacle on gait and balance parameters in young and older adults
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Abstract
Background: Tripping while walking on uneven surfaces and crossing obstacles are the most common causes of falls in the elderly. However, no study has compared the gait characteristics and balance performance among young and older adults when walking during these conditions.
Objective: To compare gait characteristics and the center of mass (CoM) displacements while walking on a flat surface, uneven surface, and crossing an obstacle in young and older adults.
Method: Twelve young adults and 12 older adults were asked to walk at a self-selected speed under three conditions: flat surface walking, uneven surface walking, and crossing an obstacle. Gait parameters (i.e. step time and its variability, step length and its variability, cadence, gait velocity) and CoM displacements across three axes were recorded using a motion capture system. A two-way mixed effects ANOVA was used to assess group and condition effects for all parameters.
Results: Older adults showed different gait characteristics from young adults while walking on uneven surface and crossing an obstacle. Older adults presented a significantly slower gait speed (p=0.006) on the uneven surface when compared to young adults. Moreover, older adults walked with a longer step time (p=0.01), slower gait speed (p=0.01), and lower cadence (p=0.009) than young adults while crossing an obstacle. There was no group difference for any gait parameters during flat surface walking. No significant interaction effect was found for gait variability or the CoM displacement across all three axes.
Conclusion: There were age-related changes during the uneven surface walking and crossing an obstacle task. These age-related changes were more pronounced during crossing an obstacle.
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References
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