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Updated: Jan 28, 2026
05:52
Lower-Limb Biomechanical Characteristics Associated with Unplanned Gait Termination Under Different Walking Speeds
Published on: August 25, 2020
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Concern About Falling Is Associated With Gait Speed, Independently From Physical and Cognitive Function
Kimberley S van Schooten1, Ellen Freiberger2, Myriam Sillevis Smitt3
1Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Physical Therapy
|March 5, 2019
Summary
Concern about falling significantly slows walking speed in older adults, even after accounting for physical and cognitive factors. This highlights the importance of addressing fear of falling in geriatric assessments to improve mobility and reduce fall risk.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
- Clinical Geriatrics
Background:
- Higher concern about falling in older adults is linked to slower walking and increased fall risk.
- The independence of this association from other fall risk factors remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of concern about falling on gait speed.
- To adjust for physiological fall risk and cognitive function in this analysis.
Main Methods:
- An observational, cross-sectional study involving 204 community-dwelling older adults (≥70 years).
- Gait speed was measured under preferred, fast, and dual-task (functional and cognitive) conditions.
- Concern about falling, physiological fall risk, and cognitive function were assessed using validated scales.
Main Results:
- Elevated concern about falling correlated with reduced gait speed across all measured conditions.
- This association remained statistically significant after adjusting for age, fall history, sex, physical function, and cognitive function.
- Concern about falling emerged as the strongest predictor of gait speed.
Conclusions:
- Concern about falling demonstrably affects gait speed, particularly under dual-task conditions.
- Routine geriatric assessments should incorporate the evaluation of concern about falling.
- Addressing fear of falling may be crucial for maintaining mobility in older populations.
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