title: Stride dynamics, gait variability and prospective falls risk in active community dwelling older women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Measures of walking instability such as stride dynamics and gait variability have been shown to identify future fallers in older adult populations with gait limitations or mobility disorders. This study investigated whether measures of walking instability can predict future fallers (over a prospective 12 month period) in a group of healthy and active older women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven healthy active women aged between 55 and 90 years walked for 7 min around a continuous walking circuit. Gait data recorded by a GAITRite(®) walkway and foot-mounted accelerometers were used to calculate measures of stride dynamics and gait variability. The participant's physical function and balance were assessed. Fall incidence was monitored over the following 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inter-limb differences (p≤0.04) in stride dynamics were found for fallers (one or more falls) aged over 70 years, and multiple fallers (two or more falls) aged over 55 years, but not in non-fallers or a combined group of single and non-fallers. No group differences were found in the measures of physical function, balance or gait, including variability. Additionally, no gait variable predicted falls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced coordination of inter-limb dynamics was found in active healthy older fallers and multiple fallers despite no difference in other measures of intrinsic falls risk. Evaluating inter-limb dynamics may be a clinically sensitive technique to detect early gait instability and falls risk in high functioning older adults, prior to change in other measures of physical function, balance and gait.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Physical Activity Across the Lifespan, School of Exercise Science, Australian Catholic University, 115 Victoria Pde, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065, Australia. kade.paterson@acu.edu.au
authors.forename: Kade
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lythgo
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008875:Middle Aged; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*