Normative spatiotemporal gait parameters in older adults

Abstract

While factor analyses have characterized pace, rhythm and variability as factors that explain variance in gait performance in older adults, comprehensive analyses incorporating many gait parameters have not been undertaken and normative data for many of those parameters are lacking. The purposes of this study were to conduct a factor analysis on nearly two dozen spatiotemporal gait parameters and to contribute to the normative database of gait parameters from healthy, able-bodied men and women over the age of 70. Data were extracted from 294 participants enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging. Spatiotemporal gait data were obtained as participants completed two walks across a 5.6-m electronic walkway (GAITRite(®)). Five primary domains of spatiotemporal gait performance were identified: a "rhythm" domain was characterized by cadence and temporal parameters such as stride time; a "phase" domain was characterized by temporophasic parameters that constitute distinct divisions of the gait cycle; a "variability" domain encompassed gait cycle and step variability parameters; a "pace" domain was characterized by parameters that included gait speed, step length and stride length; and a "base of support" domain was characterized by step width and step width variability. Several domains differed between men and women and differed across age groups. Reference values of 23 gait parameters are presented which researchers or clinicians can use for assessing and interpreting gait dysfunction in aging persons.

Figure 1

The flow sheet describes participant selection, with exclusion criteria.

Figure 2

The phase and pace domains of gait performance had significant age group effects. The proportion of the gait cycle spent in double limb support (A) was greater in the 85+ year age group than in the 70–74 year age group. Double limb support time (B) was greater in the 85+ year age group than in the 70–74 year age group and in the 75–79 year age group. Gait speed (C) in the 80–84 and 85+ year age groups was slower than in the 70–74 and 75–79 year age groups. Stride lengths (D) and step lengths (not illustrated because step length data are one-half the length of stride length data but show identical statistical comparisons) in the 85+ year age group were shorter than in the 70–74, 75–79 and 80–84 year age groups, and were shorter in the 80–84 year age group than in the 70–74 year age group. Note: * denotes Bonferroni-adjusted p<0.05, ** denotes Bonferroni-adjusted p<0.01, *** denotes Bonferroni-adjusted p<0.001.