Studies of gait and mobility in the elderly

The gait and mobility of 71 subjects aged 60--99 years were studied by completion of a questionnaire, by measurement of time and distance factors using a metal walkway, and by examination of the subject's performance on a simple "obstacle' course. Sway was measured with an ataxiameter. The subjects spanned a wide range of activity levels from those whose outdoor activity was unlimited to those who were housebound. The velocity of walking decreased slightly with age, but depended more on pathology affecting the motor system and on the subject's habitual activity. The mean velocity of walking for the subjects was lower than previously reported for elderly persons. Since the latter were obtained on "elite' subjects with no pathology of the central nervous or locomotor systems, it is proposed that data obtained on subjects in this study, who claimed unlimited activity, might constitute more realistic controls for studies of the effects of disease or for evaluation of rehabilitation. Other factors contributing to mobility, such as rising from a chair, ascending and descending stairs and turning around, were also more dependent on the presence of pathology than on age. The importance of balance was demonstrated by associations between ataxia scores and the velocity of walking and performance on the obstacle course. Subjects who used walking aids walked more slowly, had poor performances on the obstacle course and higher ataxia scores.