The Discriminant Value of Phase-Dependent Local Dynamic Stability of Daily Life Walking in Older Adult Community-Dwelling Fallers and Nonfallers.
The present study compares phase-dependent measures of local dynamic stability of daily life walking with 35 conventional gait features in their ability to discriminate between community-dwelling older fallers and nonfallers. The study reanalyzes 3D-acceleration data of 3-day daily life activity from 39 older people who reported less than 2 falls during one year and 31 who reported two or more falls. Phase-dependent local dynamic stability was defined for initial perturbation at 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% of the step cycle. A partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used to compare the discriminant abilities of phase-dependent local dynamic stability with the discriminant abilities of 35 conventional gait features. The phase-dependent local dynamic stability λ at 0% and 60% of the step cycle discriminated well between fallers and nonfallers (AUC = 0.83) and was significantly larger (p < 0.01) for the nonfallers. Furthermore, phase-dependent λ discriminated as well between fallers and nonfallers as all other gait features combined. The present result suggests that phase-dependent measures of local dynamic stability of daily life walking might be of importance for further development in early fall risk screening tools.
Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
Espen A F
EA
Ihlen
Center for the Study of Movement, Cognition, and Mobility, Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 64239 Tel Aviv, Israel.
Aner
A
Weiss
Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway ; Clinic for Clinical Services, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, 7006 Trondheim, Norway.
Jorunn L
JL
Helbostad
Center for the Study of Movement, Cognition, and Mobility, Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 64239 Tel Aviv, Israel ; Department of Physical Therapy, Sackler School of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Jeffrey M
JM
Hausdorff
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D012307:Risk Factors; D016138:Walking