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. 2021 Jul 2;18(13):7074.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18137074.

Gait Flexibility among Older Persons Significantly More Impaired in Fallers Than Non-Fallers-A Longitudinal Study

Eva Ekvall Hansson  1 , Elina Valkonen  2 , Ulrika Olsson Möller  3 , Yi Chen Lin  4 , Måns Magnusson  5 , Per-Anders Fransson  5
Affiliations

Gait Flexibility among Older Persons Significantly More Impaired in Fallers Than Non-Fallers-A Longitudinal Study

Eva Ekvall Hansson et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Gait disorders are a relevant factor for falls and possible to measure with wearable devices. If a wearable sensor can detect differences in gait parameters between fallers and non-fallers has not yet been studied. The aim of this study was to measure and compare gait parameters, vestibular function, and balance performance between fallers and non-fallers among a group of older persons. Participants were senior members (n = 101) of a Swedish non-profit gymnastic association. Gait parameters were obtained using an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that the participants wore on the leg while walking an obstacle course and on an even surface. Vestibular function was assessed by the Head-shake test, the Head impulse test, and the Dix-Hallpike maneuver. Balance was assessed by the Timed Up and Go, the Timed Up and Go manual, and the Timed Up and Go cognitive tests. Falls during the 12-month follow-up period were monitored using fall diaries. Forty-two persons (41%) had fallen during the 12-month follow-up. Fallers had more limited ability to vary their gait (gait flexibility) than non-fallers (p < 0.001). No other differences between fallers and non-fallers were found. The use of gait flexibility, captured by an IMU, seems better for identifying future fallers among healthy older persons than Timed Up and Go or Timed Up and Go combined with a cognitive or manual task.

Keywords: balance; falls; gait; older people; postural balance.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The obstacle course, including walking within a 25 cm narrow strip for 3 m, walking over an uneven surface, walking over three 30 cm high obstacles, walking up and down stairs with 10 steps (behind the door in the back of the picture), and walking back to the starting point.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Acceleration norm during unobstructed walk presented together with an overlay of the calculated mean step profile.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Acceleration norm during impeded gait (walking a part of the obstacle course) presented together with an overlay of the calculated mean step profile during unobstructed walk.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Flow chart of the study.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Variation in stride time for one participant while walking in the obstacle course.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Gait flexibility for (A) P1 and (B) P2 obstacle courses. P1 = walking the obstacle course without walking down the stairs; P2 = walking in the total obstacle course.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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