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Related Experiment Videos

Falls in the elderly: Part I, Gait.

G M Gehlsen1, M H Whaley

  • 1Biomechanics Laboratory, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|September 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

This study analyzed elderly gait patterns, finding heel width differences between fallers and non-fallers. Most other gait characteristics showed no significant link to falls in healthy older adults.

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Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Biomechanics
  • Kinesiology

Background:

  • Falls are a significant concern in elderly populations, impacting mobility and independence.
  • Understanding gait characteristics is crucial for identifying fall risk factors in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare gait profiles of elderly individuals with and without a history of falls.
  • To identify specific gait parameters that may predict fall risk in the elderly.

Main Methods:

  • Two groups of elderly adults (fall history vs. no fall history) were assessed.
  • Gait characteristics including step frequency, stance time, swing time, double support time, step length, heel width, heel height, toe height, and lower limb joint angular excursions were measured.
  • Subjects walked on a treadmill at 4 km/h and 6 km/h, filmed with 16-mm Locam cameras and analyzed using computer digitization.

Main Results:

  • Analysis revealed a significant difference (p < .05) in heel width between the fall history and no fall history groups.
  • No other significant relationships were found between the measured gait characteristics and falls in apparently healthy elderly individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Heel width may be a potential indicator of fall history in elderly individuals.
  • Most common gait parameters do not appear to be significant predictors of falls in healthy older adults.

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