Methodological tools used for tripping gait analysis of elderly and prosthetic limb users: a systematic review

Tripping during walking is known to be the predominant cause of falls in elderly and prosthetic limb users. To standardise measurements and analysis of trips, it is critical to summarise the methods used in laboratory-controlled trials.

The aim of this study was to reach a clearer standardisation measurement and analysis of trips during elderly and prosthetic gait through a systematic review.

Studies that assessed elderly and prosthetic tripping gait characteristics were included in this review. The search resulted in an initial yield of 2493 unique articles after duplicates were removed (PubMed, Scopus and Science Direct). Title analysis resulted in 1697 articles excluded and 659 articles were assessed for further eligibility on the basis of the abstract. 174 articles were excluded based on a full-text appraisal. The final yield was 21 unique articles that met all the inclusion criteria.

The findings revealed a number of inconsistencies among the studies, namely ambiguity in relation to gait speed, differences in overground and treadmill locomotion. Subsequently, different experimental setups such as trip inducement strategies may influence the collected data, and thus have implications for study outcomes.

A gold standard should be set to have better standardised results, thus creating a more robust and holistic approach towards the rehabilitation of prosthetic gait and in the elderly.