Stride-dependent changes in gait of older people (original) (raw)

Summary

Infrared computerized stroboscopic photometry was used to measure the kinematic profile of walking of 20 young adults and 20 neurologically healthy elderly people. Compared with the young adults, the elderly exhibited 17–20% reductions in the velocity of gait and length of stride. The elderly also exhibited comparable reductions in the maximum toe-floor clearance, arm swing, and rotations of the hips and knees, but these alterations in gait were attributable to the reduction in stride length, which may have non-neurological causes. The influence of reduced gait velocity and stride length on the other characteristics of walking must be considered when evaluating the pattern of walking in elderly people.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, P. O. Box 19230, 62704-9230, Springfield, IL, USA
    R. J. Elble & C. Higgins
  2. Department of Surgery, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, P. O. Box 19230, 62704-9230, Springfield, IL, USA
    S. Sienko Thomas
  3. Department of Statistics and Measurement, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, P. O. Box 19230, 62704-9230, Springfield, IL, USA
    J. Colliver

Authors

  1. R. J. Elble
  2. S. Sienko Thomas
  3. C. Higgins
  4. J. Colliver

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Elble, R.J., Thomas, S.S., Higgins, C. et al. Stride-dependent changes in gait of older people.J Neurol 238, 1–5 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319700

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