[Locomotive limitations in the elderly; something to consider]

A clinimetric method was used to investigate subjective and objective gait disabilities in 339 persons of 65 years and older in Valkenburg aan de Geul, the Netherlands. Because this study deals with disabilities rather than with medical diagnoses an interview by telephone was considered sufficient. A short, simple and broadly applicable questionnaire was made in order to assess gait disabilities in an objective way. In this random sample 43% of the elderly persons experienced difficulties with walking and 30% experienced objective gait disabilities. The non-response was 30%. The predominant complaint that hampered walking was pain, followed by tiredness and short of breath. The respondents attributed their gait disabilities to cardiovascular problems (23%) and to arthrosis (16%). 15% had no explanation for the cause of the gait problems.