title: Gait variability in community-dwelling older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe gait variability at usual and fast walking speeds in community-dwelling older adults and to describe the effects of increasing gait speed on gait variability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Cardiovascular Health Study at the University of Pittsburgh.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-five community-living older adults, 54 women and 41 men, age 65 and older (mean age +/- standard deviation 79.4 +/- 3.37).
  
  
  METHODS
  Gait measured at participant's usual and fast walking speed collected using an instrumented walkway. Step-length and step-width variability were determined using the coefficient of variation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Step-length variability was greatest in those who walked the slowest (r = -0.66, P < .001); step-width variability was smallest in those who walked the slowest (r -0.37, P < .001). Individuals who could not increase their walking speed (<0.10 m/second) on command had an increase in step-length variability and a decrease in step-width variability, whereas those who could increase their speed (>0.10 m/second) had an increase in step-width variability when walking at a faster speed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Step-length and step-width variability have opposite associations with gait speed in older adults. Improvement in step-length and step-width variability with attempted acceleration might be a key factor to examine in future studies of disability risk and therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Brach
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berthold
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Craik
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: VanSwearingen
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Newman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*