The step length-frequency relationship in physically active community-dwelling older women.
This study evaluated the step length-frequency relationship in physically active community-dwelling older women in order to investigate whether the relationship between these two spatio-temporal gait parameters changes with increasing age. Forty older women in four age groups, i.e. 64-69, 70-74, 75-79 and 80-85 year olds, participated in the study. Subjects walked at five different self-selected speeds and while simultaneously performing an additional cognitive and/or upper-extremity motor task. Gait parameters were determined from forward accelerations measured by a tri-axial accelerometer on the lower back. All subjects demonstrated a strong linear relationship between step length and step frequency for walking at different speeds. No evidence for a change in the step length-frequency relationship with age was found, suggesting that there are no differences between physically active older women of different age groups regarding the adoption of a "cautious gait", i.e. a gait pattern characterized by a reduced step length.
Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 196, 9700 AD, Groningen, The Netherlands. a.zijlstra@rug.nl
Agnes
A
Zijlstra
Eling D
ED
de Bruin
Nienke
N
Bruins
Wiebren
W
Zijlstra
D000054:Acceleration; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking