Quantifying the cadence of free-living walking using event-based analysis

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Movement Analysis
• Clinical Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Free-living walking is characterized by variable durations and intensities (cadence).
• Accurate characterization requires analyzing the distribution of walking event durations and cadences.
• Understanding walking behavior is crucial for populations with conditions affecting mobility, such as intermittent claudication (IC).

Purpose of the Study:

• To employ an event-based analysis to characterize free-living walking duration and cadence.
• To compare walking behavior between individuals with intermittent claudication (IC) and a healthy matched control group.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the activPAL activity monitor to record 7-day walking activity in 30 individuals with IC and 30 healthy controls.
• Calculated cadence, number of steps, and duration for individual walking events.
• Derived and compared outcomes based on applied thresholds (p<0.05).

Main Results:

• Both groups exhibited a similar number of daily walking events (approx. 400).
• Controls showed a greater proportion of walking at higher cadences (≥100 steps/min: 32% vs. 20% in IC).
• Individuals with IC had fewer longer walking events, which were associated with higher cadences; differences were primarily above 90 steps/min.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first quantification of cadence during continuous free-living walking periods.
• Novel outcomes derived from individual walking event characteristics (duration, steps, cadence) offer new insights into walking behavior.
• Findings highlight reduced volume and altered cadence patterns in individuals with IC during daily activities.