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Development and decline of upright gait stability
Marco Iosa1, Augusto Fusco1, Giovanni Morone1
1Clinical Laboratory of Experimental Neurorehabilitation, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) , Rome , Italy.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
|February 20, 2014
Summary
Human upright gait stability develops from toddlerhood and declines with age, increasing fall risk in the elderly. This review examines lifespan changes, pathologies, and wearable sensor applications for gait analysis.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Locomotion
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Upright gait requires dynamic balance management despite lower limb perturbations.
- Studies often compare young adults and the elderly, or healthy subjects and patients, with fewer focusing on children's gait development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of upright gait stability across the human lifespan.
- To synthesize research on gait development, aging, pathologies, and environmental influences.
- To highlight recent advancements in wearable sensor technology for gait analysis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on upright gait stability.
- Analysis of developmental trends from childhood to old age.
- Investigation of factors affecting gait stability, including aging, pathologies, and environment.
Main Results:
- A clear trend of developing and then declining upright gait stability is observed across the lifespan.
- Aging leads to reduced stability due to muscle deterioration, sensory, and cognitive decline, increasing fall risk.
- Pathological conditions and environmental factors significantly influence gait stability.
Conclusions:
- Upright gait stability is a dynamic process that changes throughout life.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for fall prevention and rehabilitation strategies.
- Wearable accelerometers offer promising avenues for monitoring and analyzing gait dynamics.
