title: Are there different factors affecting walking speed and gait cycle variability between men and women in community-dwelling older adults?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have examined the relationships between walking speed and gait cycle variability, and muscle strength and postural stability, with a focus on gender differences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine whether there are different factors affecting walking speed and gait cycle variability between men and women in community-dwelling older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects comprised 712 community-dwelling older adults (252 men, 460 women, aged 68.7 ± 4.8 years). Walking speed and coefficient of variation (CV) of step time at a comfortable walking pace were measured. The maximal isometric strength of six lower limb muscles and postural stability were evaluated. Stepwise regression analysis was performed, using lower limb muscle strength and postural stability as independent variables, to investigate the association with walking speed or CV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For older men, age, body mass index (BMI) and quadriceps setting (QS) strength were significant and independent determinants of walking speed. No variables were identified as significant determinants of CV. For older women, BMI and hip flexion, hip abduction, QS muscle strength were significant determinants of walking speed. Only hip abduction strength was a significant determinant of CV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that QS strength is related to walking speed in both men and women, whereas hip flexion and abduction muscle strength are related to walking speed, and hip abduction muscle strength is related to gait cycle variability in older women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gender differences exist in factors affecting walking speed and gait cycle variability in community-dwelling older adults.
authors.affiliation: Human Health Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Wakako
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Human Health Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan. ikezoe.tome.4u@kyoto-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Tome
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikezoe
authors.affiliation: Human Health Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuboyama
authors.affiliation: Human Health Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Ikuya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Human Health Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Katarzyna Bronislawa
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Malinowska
authors.affiliation: Center for Genomic Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.affiliation: Center for Genomic Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tabara
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Informatics, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Konoe-cho, Yoshida, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.affiliation: Center for Genomic Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumihiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.affiliation: Human Health Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ichihashi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D000072797:Walking Speed / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Gait cycle variability; Gender difference; Muscle strength; Older adults; Postural stability; Walking speed