Gait Function in Adults Aged 50 Years and Older With Spina Bifida

To study gait function among individuals with spina bifida (SB) aged 50 years or older.

A cross-sectional study conducted in 2017.

Home-dwelling participants from all regions in Norway.

Individuals between the ages of 51 and 76 years (N=26; 16 women) categorized as independent walkers (n=9), walkers with aids (n=10) and nonwalkers (n=7).

Not applicable.

Questionnaire, pain assessment, anthropometry, Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I), objective gait analysis, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and timed Up and Go (TUG).

Walking speed correlated with SB severity (ρ=-.59; P=.008). Individuals who walked slower than 0.81 m/s had a higher body mass index (BMI) than those who walked faster (P=.008). Independent walkers walked slower than healthy age-matched walkers (P=.046); spatiotemporal variables showed that this was owing to shorter steps rather than cadence. The mean TUG was 10.6±2.6 seconds in independent walkers and 20.2±6.5 in walkers with aids (P<.01). The mean 6MWT was 504±126 meters in independent walkers and 316±88 in walkers with aids (P<.01). The mean pain intensity (numeric rating scale) was 4.9±2.2 in independent walkers and 4.2±1.6 in walkers with aids, but the difference was not statistically significant. FES-I was significantly lower among independent walkers (mean, 23.6±3.9) than walkers with aids (mean, 31.4±10.0) (P=.042).

Participants commonly experienced an early onset deterioration in gait function, and walking speed was influenced by SB severity and BMI. This highlights the importance of early monitoring and weight management during follow-up for SB.