[Effects of some factors in the development of locomotive disorders in the elderly]

267 Persons over 65 years were interviewed by telephone to investigate the influence of some factors on the occurrence of gait disabilities. These factors are: sex, fractures, operations of the lower extremities, overweight, underweight, decreased sight, parity, medication use, smoking and occupation. The gait disabilities were objectivated by a short questionnaire.

Male and female respondents reported gait disabilities in equal numbers. No relation occurred between fractures of the lower extremities and gait disabilities in the respondents. More people with than without gait disabilities have had an operation of the lower extremities, particularly when the operation indication was a vascular one. A relation was found between gait disabilities in the elderly respondents and smoking (ns), decreased sight and medication use.