title: Age-related differences in pelvic and trunk motion and gait adaptability at different walking speeds.
abstract: This study aimed at investigating age-related changes in gait kinematics and in kinematic adaptations over a wide range of walking velocities. Thirty-four older adults and 14 younger adults walked on a treadmill; the treadmill velocity was gradually increased in increments of 0.2miles/hour (mph) (1.1-1.9mph) and then decreased in the same increments. Pelvic, trunk, upper limbs and lower limbs angular total ranges of motion (tROM), stride time, stride length, and step width were measured. The older adults had lower pelvic, trunk tROM and shorter strides and stride time compared with the younger adults. As the treadmill speed was gradually increased, the older adults showed an inability to change the pelvic list angular motions (3.1±1.3° to 3.2±1.4°) between different walking velocities, while the younger adults showed changes (5.1±1.8° to 6.3±1.7°) as a function of the walking velocity. As the walking velocity increased, the older adults increased their stride length (from 57.0±10cm to 90.2±0.1cm) yet stride times remained constant (from 1.17±0.3sec to 1.08±0.1sec), while the younger adults increased stride length and reduced stride times (from 71.4±10cm to 103.0±7.9m and from 1.45±0.2sec to 1.22±0.1sec, respectively). In conclusion, the older adults were unable to make adaptations in pelvic and trunk kinematics between different walking speeds (rigid behavior), while the younger adults showed more flexible behavior. Pelvic and trunk kinematics in different walking speeds can be used as variables in the assessment of gait in older adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gimmon
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Raziel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riemer
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Hisham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rashed
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Department, Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel.
authors.forename: Ronen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Debi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kurz
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. Electronic address: itzikm@bgu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Itshak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Melzer
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D010388:Pelvis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D060726:Torso / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking
keywords: Gait; Kinematics; Old; Rigid and flexible behavior