PRACA ORYGINALNA
First signs of elderly gait for women
Więcej
Ukryj
1
Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education, Warszawa, Poland
(Faculty of Rehabilitation, Department of Physiology)
2
Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education, Warszawa, Poland
(Faculty of Rehabilitation, Department of Anatomy and Kinesiology)
3
Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education, Warszawa, Poland
(Faculty of Rehabilitation, Department of Biomechanics)
Data publikacji online: 22-05-2017
Autor do korespondencji
Katarzyna Kaczmarczyk
Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education, Faculty of Rehabilitation,
Department of Physiology, Marymoncka 34, 00-968 Warszawa, Poland
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2017;68(4):441-8
SŁOWA KLUCZOWE
DZIEDZINY
STRESZCZENIE
Background: The aims of this study have been twofold: to attempt to reduce the number of spatiotemporal parameters used for
describing gait through the factor analysis and component analysis; and to explore the critical age of decline for other gait parameters
for healthy women. Material and Methods: A total of 106 women (aged ≥ 40 years old (N = 76) and ≤ 31 years old (N = 30))
were evaluated using a pressure-sensitive mat (Zebris Medical System, Tübingen, Germany) for collecting spatiotemporal gait
parameters. Results: The factor analysis identified 2 factors – labelled Time and Rhythm – that accounted for 72% of the variation
in significant free-gait parameters; the principal component analysis identified 4 of these parameters that permit full clinical
evaluation of gait quality. No difference was found between the groups in terms of the values of parameters reflecting the temporal
nature of gait (Rhythm), namely step time, stride time and cadence, whereas significant differences were found for total double
support phase (p < 0.001). Next, seeking evidence of a critical decline in gait, we selected 3 parameters: total double support, stride
time and velocity. We concluded that the women taking part in the experiment manifested significant signs of senile gait after the
age of 60 years old, with the first symptoms thereof already manifesting themselves after 50 years of age. Conclusions: We show
that among 26 spatiotemporal parameters that may be used for characterizing gait, at least a half of them may be omitted in the
assessment of gait correctness; a finding that may be useful in clinical practice. The finding that the onset of senile gait occurs in
the case of women after the age of 60 years old, in turn, may be useful in evaluating the ability for performing types of physical
work that mainly require ambulation. Med Pr 2017;68(4):441–448