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Clinical-oriented Three-dimensional Gait Analysis Method for Evaluating Gait Disorder
Published on: March 4, 2018
Accelerometry-based gait analysis, an additional objective approach to screen subjects at risk for falling.
R Senden1, H H C M Savelberg, B Grimm
1Atrium Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology, Henri Dunantstraat 5, Heerlen, P.O. Box 4446, 6401 CX Heerlen, The Netherlands. rach_senden@yahoo.com
Gait & Posture
|April 20, 2012
Summary
The subjective Tinetti scale for fall risk assessment has limited ability to detect subtle gait changes. Objective gait analysis using accelerometers provides a more accurate measure for identifying fall risk in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
- Clinical Gait Analysis
Background:
- Fall risk assessment in the elderly is crucial for preventive interventions.
- The Tinetti scale is a widely used subjective tool for evaluating fall risk.
- Objective gait analysis offers a potential complementary approach to subjective measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the subjective Tinetti scale and objective gait parameters.
- To determine if gait parameters differ between elderly fall risk groups stratified by the Tinetti scale.
- To assess the discriminative power of gait parameters in classifying fall risk.
Main Methods:
- Acceleration-based gait analysis was performed on 100 elderly individuals (50 with Tinetti > 24, 50 with Tinetti ≤ 24).
- Validated algorithms derived spatio-temporal parameters, harmonic ratio, inter-stride amplitude variability, and root mean square (RMS) from accelerometer data.
- Correlation and classification analyses were conducted to compare subjective and objective measures.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in gait parameters were observed between the Tinetti scale groups.
- All analyzed gait parameters showed correlations with the Tinetti scale scores (r-range: 0.20–0.73).
- Walking speed, step length, and RMS demonstrated moderate to strong correlations and high discriminative power for fall risk classification.
Conclusions:
- Subjective fall risk assessments like the Tinetti scale may not capture subtle gait alterations indicative of fall risk.
- Objective gait analysis, particularly parameters like walking speed, step length, and RMS, offers valuable insights for fall risk screening.
- Integrating objective gait assessment into routine screening can enhance the identification and management of fall risk in older adults.
