title: The effect of aging on gait parameters in able-bodied older subjects: a literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gait disorders are common in the elderly populations, and their prevalence increases with age. Abnormal gait has been associated with greater risk for adverse outcomes in older adults, such as immobility and falls, which in turn lead to loss of functional independence and death.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this review was to evaluate all of the original papers that measured gait parameters in the healthy elderly subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The search strategy was based on Population Intervention Comparison Outcome method. A search was performed in Pub Med, Science Direct, Google scholar, ISI web of knowledge databases by using the selected keywords. Forty-two articles were selected for final evaluation. The procedure using the PRISMA method was followed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stride lengths of older subjects ranged between 135 and 153 cm, and they preferred to walk with a 41 % increase in step width compared to young subjects. Cadence was reported to be between 103 and 112 steps/min in older adults. They consumed an average of 20-30 % more metabolic energy than younger subjects. All except one study demonstrated that older people have significantly reduced gait symmetry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The progression toward shorter steps and slower walking and increased step width and prolonged double support in older adult, may therefore emerge as a compensatory strategy aimed at increasing stability, avoiding falls, or reducing the energetic cost of mobility.
authors.affiliation: Orthotics and Prosthetics Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.|Iranian Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Atefeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aboutorabi
authors.affiliation: Orthotics and Prosthetics Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran. m.arazpour@yahoo.com.|Pediatric Neurorehabilitation Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. m.arazpour@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mokhtar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arazpour
authors.affiliation: Orthotics and Prosthetics Department, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahramizadeh
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health and Social Care Research (IHSCR), Faculty of Health & Social Care, University of Salford, Manchester, Salford, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen William
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hutchins
authors.affiliation: Iranian Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fadayevatan
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005684:Gait; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Aging; Energy expenditure; Gait parameters; Gait variability; Kinematic; Kinetic