Differences in Gait Stability and Acceleration Characteristics Between Healthy Young and Older Females
Our aim was to evaluate differences in gait acceleration intensity, variability, and stability of feet and trunk between older females (OF) and young females (YF) using inertial sensors. Twenty OF (mean age 68.4, SD 4.1 years) and 18 YF (mean age 22.3, SD 1.7 years) were asked to walk straight for 1...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-11-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2021.763309/full |
| _version_ | 1828080575652560896 |
|---|---|
| author | Yuge Zhang Xinglong Zhou Mirjam Pijnappels Sjoerd M. Bruijn Sjoerd M. Bruijn Sjoerd M. Bruijn |
| author_facet | Yuge Zhang Xinglong Zhou Mirjam Pijnappels Sjoerd M. Bruijn Sjoerd M. Bruijn Sjoerd M. Bruijn |
| author_sort | Yuge Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Our aim was to evaluate differences in gait acceleration intensity, variability, and stability of feet and trunk between older females (OF) and young females (YF) using inertial sensors. Twenty OF (mean age 68.4, SD 4.1 years) and 18 YF (mean age 22.3, SD 1.7 years) were asked to walk straight for 100 meters at their preferred speed, while wearing inertial sensors on their heels and lower back. We calculated spatiotemporal measures, foot and trunk acceleration characteristics, their variability, and trunk stability using the local divergence exponent (LDE). Two-way ANOVA (such as the factors foot and age), Student's t-test and Mann–Whitney U test were used to compare statistical differences of measures between groups. Cohen's d effects were calculated for each variable. Foot maximum vertical (VT) acceleration and amplitude, trunk-foot VT acceleration attenuation, and their variability were significantly smaller in OF than in YF. In contrast, trunk mediolateral (ML) acceleration amplitude, maximum VT acceleration, amplitude, and their variability were significantly larger in OF than in YF. Moreover, OF showed lower stability (i.e., higher LDE values) in ML acceleration, ML, and VT angular velocity of the trunk. Even though we measured healthy OF, these participants showed lower VT foot accelerations with higher VT trunk acceleration, lower trunk-foot VT acceleration attenuation, less gait stability, and more variability of the trunk, and hence, were more likely to fall. These findings suggest that instrumented gait measurements may help for early detection of changes or impairments in gait performance, even before this can be observed by clinical eye or gait speed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T03:22:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ff423df92a4147109cac72dd7f752028 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-6861 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T03:22:06Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff423df92a4147109cac72dd7f7520282023-01-02T08:53:25ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences2673-68612021-11-01210.3389/fresc.2021.763309763309Differences in Gait Stability and Acceleration Characteristics Between Healthy Young and Older FemalesYuge Zhang0Xinglong Zhou1Mirjam Pijnappels2Sjoerd M. Bruijn3Sjoerd M. Bruijn4Sjoerd M. Bruijn5Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsSport Science College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsDepartment of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsInstitute of Brain and Behavior Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NetherlandsBiomechanics Laboratory, Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, ChinaOur aim was to evaluate differences in gait acceleration intensity, variability, and stability of feet and trunk between older females (OF) and young females (YF) using inertial sensors. Twenty OF (mean age 68.4, SD 4.1 years) and 18 YF (mean age 22.3, SD 1.7 years) were asked to walk straight for 100 meters at their preferred speed, while wearing inertial sensors on their heels and lower back. We calculated spatiotemporal measures, foot and trunk acceleration characteristics, their variability, and trunk stability using the local divergence exponent (LDE). Two-way ANOVA (such as the factors foot and age), Student's t-test and Mann–Whitney U test were used to compare statistical differences of measures between groups. Cohen's d effects were calculated for each variable. Foot maximum vertical (VT) acceleration and amplitude, trunk-foot VT acceleration attenuation, and their variability were significantly smaller in OF than in YF. In contrast, trunk mediolateral (ML) acceleration amplitude, maximum VT acceleration, amplitude, and their variability were significantly larger in OF than in YF. Moreover, OF showed lower stability (i.e., higher LDE values) in ML acceleration, ML, and VT angular velocity of the trunk. Even though we measured healthy OF, these participants showed lower VT foot accelerations with higher VT trunk acceleration, lower trunk-foot VT acceleration attenuation, less gait stability, and more variability of the trunk, and hence, were more likely to fall. These findings suggest that instrumented gait measurements may help for early detection of changes or impairments in gait performance, even before this can be observed by clinical eye or gait speed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2021.763309/fullwalkingagingwearable systemmotor controlbalance |
| spellingShingle | Yuge Zhang Xinglong Zhou Mirjam Pijnappels Sjoerd M. Bruijn Sjoerd M. Bruijn Sjoerd M. Bruijn Differences in Gait Stability and Acceleration Characteristics Between Healthy Young and Older Females Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences walking aging wearable system motor control balance |
| title | Differences in Gait Stability and Acceleration Characteristics Between Healthy Young and Older Females |
| title_full | Differences in Gait Stability and Acceleration Characteristics Between Healthy Young and Older Females |
| title_fullStr | Differences in Gait Stability and Acceleration Characteristics Between Healthy Young and Older Females |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differences in Gait Stability and Acceleration Characteristics Between Healthy Young and Older Females |
| title_short | Differences in Gait Stability and Acceleration Characteristics Between Healthy Young and Older Females |
| title_sort | differences in gait stability and acceleration characteristics between healthy young and older females |
| topic | walking aging wearable system motor control balance |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2021.763309/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yugezhang differencesingaitstabilityandaccelerationcharacteristicsbetweenhealthyyoungandolderfemales AT xinglongzhou differencesingaitstabilityandaccelerationcharacteristicsbetweenhealthyyoungandolderfemales AT mirjampijnappels differencesingaitstabilityandaccelerationcharacteristicsbetweenhealthyyoungandolderfemales AT sjoerdmbruijn differencesingaitstabilityandaccelerationcharacteristicsbetweenhealthyyoungandolderfemales AT sjoerdmbruijn differencesingaitstabilityandaccelerationcharacteristicsbetweenhealthyyoungandolderfemales AT sjoerdmbruijn differencesingaitstabilityandaccelerationcharacteristicsbetweenhealthyyoungandolderfemales |