- Email: [email protected]
Age-related differences in gait kinematics across the gait cycle in healthy individuals
Gait & Posture 49S (2016) 247
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Gait & Posture journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/gaitpost
P103 presented in PS04: Poster teaser: Gait, technical and upper-limb
Age-related differences in gait kinematics across the gait cycle in healthy individuals Tamaya Van Criekinge *, Wim Saeys, Ann Hallemans, Luc Vereeck, Willem De Hertogh, Steven Truijen Uantwerpen, Wilrijk, Belgium
[(Fig._1)TD$IG] Introduction: A sufficient amount of research has been conducted regarding the effects of aging on biomechanics in healthy individuals [1]. However, kinematic parameters have always been examined at several key events compared to changes across the entire gait cycle. In addition, a cut off score of 60 years is widely used to categorise healthy individuals into older and young adults. Yet, no research has been conducted to examine the appropriate cut off score to detect age-related differences. Research question: Which kinematic parameters across the gait cycle change in aging healthy individuals and at what age do these changes occur? Methods: In total, 105 healthy individuals ranging from 20 to 89 years (15 per decade) without any neurological or orthopaedic disorders that could affect motor performance and balance were included in this study. They were subjected to a full body gait analysis at a self-selected walking speed. Kinematic parameters were assessed by means of 3D motion capture (VICON). A one way ANOVA was performed using spm1d statistics across the entire gait cycle to examine overall differences. Independent sample t-tests were used during post hoc analysis. Results: Significant differences were found in almost all kinematic parameters in all three planes (p 0.001), except for thoracic movement in the frontal plane (p > 0.05) (Fig. 1). The octogenarians had significantly different kinematic parameters compared to the other decades in the sagittal plane (p 0.048), they had the tendency to walk with a flexed-knee gait, less movement of the pelvis and a more anterior position of the trunk. In the transversal plane, changes started to occur in the thorax and pelvis in the last two decades (p 0.016). In the frontal plane, changes in pelvic and hip motion started at 60 years of age (p 0.043).
* Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (T. Van Criekinge). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2016.07.300 0966-6362/
Fig. 1.
Discussion: Results from this study are similar to the findings of Begg et al. (2006) [1]. It seems that gait-related changes in a normal aging process commenced later than generally expected. Subsequently, a hierarchy can be found in the deterioration of gait around a certain axis. In the frontal and transversal plane changes occurred in the earlier stages of aging compared to the sagittal plane. Reference [1] Begg RK, Sparrow WA. Ageing effects on knee and ankle joint angles at key events and phases of the gait cycle. J. Med. Eng. Technol. 2006;30(6):382–9.
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Gait & Posture journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/gaitpost
P103 presented in PS04: Poster teaser: Gait, technical and upper-limb
Age-related differences in gait kinematics across the gait cycle in healthy individuals Tamaya Van Criekinge *, Wim Saeys, Ann Hallemans, Luc Vereeck, Willem De Hertogh, Steven Truijen Uantwerpen, Wilrijk, Belgium
[(Fig._1)TD$IG] Introduction: A sufficient amount of research has been conducted regarding the effects of aging on biomechanics in healthy individuals [1]. However, kinematic parameters have always been examined at several key events compared to changes across the entire gait cycle. In addition, a cut off score of 60 years is widely used to categorise healthy individuals into older and young adults. Yet, no research has been conducted to examine the appropriate cut off score to detect age-related differences. Research question: Which kinematic parameters across the gait cycle change in aging healthy individuals and at what age do these changes occur? Methods: In total, 105 healthy individuals ranging from 20 to 89 years (15 per decade) without any neurological or orthopaedic disorders that could affect motor performance and balance were included in this study. They were subjected to a full body gait analysis at a self-selected walking speed. Kinematic parameters were assessed by means of 3D motion capture (VICON). A one way ANOVA was performed using spm1d statistics across the entire gait cycle to examine overall differences. Independent sample t-tests were used during post hoc analysis. Results: Significant differences were found in almost all kinematic parameters in all three planes (p 0.001), except for thoracic movement in the frontal plane (p > 0.05) (Fig. 1). The octogenarians had significantly different kinematic parameters compared to the other decades in the sagittal plane (p 0.048), they had the tendency to walk with a flexed-knee gait, less movement of the pelvis and a more anterior position of the trunk. In the transversal plane, changes started to occur in the thorax and pelvis in the last two decades (p 0.016). In the frontal plane, changes in pelvic and hip motion started at 60 years of age (p 0.043).
* Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (T. Van Criekinge). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2016.07.300 0966-6362/
Fig. 1.
Discussion: Results from this study are similar to the findings of Begg et al. (2006) [1]. It seems that gait-related changes in a normal aging process commenced later than generally expected. Subsequently, a hierarchy can be found in the deterioration of gait around a certain axis. In the frontal and transversal plane changes occurred in the earlier stages of aging compared to the sagittal plane. Reference [1] Begg RK, Sparrow WA. Ageing effects on knee and ankle joint angles at key events and phases of the gait cycle. J. Med. Eng. Technol. 2006;30(6):382–9.