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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Clinical Assessment of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Patients and Older Adults

Clinical Assessment of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Patients and Older Adults

Published on: November 7, 2014

Stance time and step width variability have unique contributing impairments in older persons.

Jennifer S Brach¹, Stephanie Studenski, Subashan Perera

¹Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States. jbrach@pitt.edu

|July 17, 2007

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Central nervous system (CNS) impairments increase stance time variability in older adults, particularly slow walkers. Sensory impairments affect step width variability, especially in fast walkers, suggesting distinct causes for gait changes.

Area of Science:

Gerontology
Neuroscience
Biomechanics

Background:

Gait variability in older adults can stem from various underlying causes.
Central nervous system (CNS) and sensory impairments are potential contributors to altered gait patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between CNS and sensory impairments and specific types of gait variability in older adults.
To determine if different gait variability measures (step length, stance time, step width) are associated with distinct neurological or sensory deficits.

Main Methods:

Utilized data from 558 older adults in the Cardiovascular Health Study.
Assessed gait variability using computerized walkway measures of step length, stance time, and step width.
Quantified CNS function (cognitive tests, finger tapping) and sensory function (lower extremity vibration, vision).

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Clinical Assessment of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Patients and Older Adults

Clinical Assessment of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Patients and Older Adults

Published on: November 7, 2014

Traditional Trail Making Test Modified into Brand-new Assessment Tools: Digital and Walking Trail Making Test

Published on: November 23, 2019

Influence of Step-Width Manipulation on Running Biomechanics

Influence of Step-Width Manipulation on Running Biomechanics

Published on: February 28, 2025

Main Results:

All CNS impairment measures were significantly associated with increased stance time variability (p<0.01).
Sensory impairments were inversely related to step width variability (p<0.01).
CNS impairments impacted stance time variability in slow walkers; sensory impairments affected step width variability in fast walkers.

Conclusions:

Specific patterns of gait variability may indicate different underlying etiological factors in older adults.
Differentiating gait variability types is crucial for targeted interventions.
Findings highlight the distinct roles of CNS and sensory systems in maintaining gait stability.