Investigating age-related characteristics of gait parameters in community-dwelling older adults during normal walking
Objective To investigate age-related characteristics of gait parameters in the elderly.Methods From February 2023 to August 2023,a convenient sampling method was used to investigate the elderly over 60 years old in communities in Beijing.General characteristics and anthropometric data were collected.Gait parameters of the subjects during normal speed walking were measured using a wearable gait analyzer.Comparisons were made of the basic characteristics,physical status and gait parameters in different age groups.Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the changes of physical status and gait parameters with age,with the 60-69-year-old group as the baseline standard.Results A total of 670 elderly people were included,including 324(48.4%)aged 60-69 years,285(42.5%)aged 70-79 years,and 61(9.1%)aged ≥80 years.Linear regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors,with increasing age,skeletal muscle mass index(SMI)(β=-0.018,95%CI:-0.029--0.007),calf circumference(β=-0.096,95%CI:-0.142--0.051),upper limb flexibility(β=-0.200,95%,95%CI:-0.355--0.046),lower limb flexibility(β=-0.244,95%CI:-0.377--0.111),grip strength(β=-0.397,95%CI:-0.491--0.303),the Short Physical Performance Battery(SPPB)(β=-0.080,95%CI:-0.100--0.060)decreased(P<0.05),and the gait parameter such as speed(β=-0.010,95%CI:-0.014--0.007),cadence(β=-0.398,95%CI:-0.634--0.162),step length/height(β=-0.002,95%CI:-0.003--0.002),stride length(β=-0.009,95%CI:-0.011--0.007),swing power(β=-0.009,95%CI:-0.012--0.006),ground impact(β=-0.020,95%CI:-0.026--0.014),foot fall(β=-0.050,95%CI:-0.064--0.036),pre-swing angle(β=-0.545,95%CI:-0.714--0.377)all decreased(P<0.05),while stride time(β=0.005,95%CI:0.001-0.009),single limb support time(β=1.566,95%CI:0.499-2.633),terminal double limb support time(β=0.609,95%CI:0.084-1.134),swing duration(β=1.288,95%CI:0.024-2.552),single step time(β=2.417,95%CI:0.462-4.372)and support phase time(β=1.935,95%CI:0.421-3.449)all increased(P<0.05).Conclusions The walking ability tends to decline with age in older people in the community who walk at a normal walking speed.