title: The influence of age on gait parameters during the transition from a wide to a narrow pathway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The ability to negotiate pathways of different widths is a prerequisite of daily living. However, only a few studies have investigated changes in gait parameters in response to walking on narrow pathways. The aim of this study is to examine the influence of age on gait adjustments during the transition from a wide to a narrow pathway.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-group repeated measures design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gait Laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty healthy older participants (mean [M] = 74.3 years, Standard deviation [SD] = 7.2 years); 20 healthy young participants (M = 26.6 years, SD = 6.1 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Making the transition from walking on a wide pathway (68 cm) to walking on a narrow pathway (15 cm).
  
  
  METHODS
  Step length, step time, step width, double support time and base of support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Healthy older participants were able to make the transition from a wide to a narrow pathway successfully. There was only one significant interaction, between age and base of support (p < 0.003). Older adults decreased their base of support only when negotiating the transition step, while young participants started decreasing their base of support prior to the negotiation of transition step (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adjustments to the transition from a wide to a narrow pathway are largely unaffected by normal ageing. Difficulties in making the transition to a narrow pathway during walking should not be attributed to normal age-related changes.
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy, Musculoskeletal Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia. nata1964@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Nataliya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shkuratova
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016138:Walking