Summary
Infrared computerized stroboscopic photometry was used to measure the kinematic profile of walking of 20 young adults and 20 neurologically healthy elderly people. Compared with the young adults, the elderly exhibited 17–20% reductions in the velocity of gait and length of stride. The elderly also exhibited comparable reductions in the maximum toe-floor clearance, arm swing, and rotations of the hips and knees, but these alterations in gait were attributable to the reduction in stride length, which may have non-neurological causes. The influence of reduced gait velocity and stride length on the other characteristics of walking must be considered when evaluating the pattern of walking in elderly people.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander RMcN (1989) Optimization and gaits in the locomotion of vertebrates. Physiol Rev 69:1199–1227
Blanke DJ, Hageman PA (1989) Comparison of gait of young men and elderly men. Phys Ther 69:144–148
Bleecker ML, Bolla-Wilson K, Kawas C, Agnew J (1988) Age-specific norms for the Mini-Mental State Exam. Neurology 38:1565–1568
Buskirk ER, Hodgson JL (1987) Age and aerobic power: the rate of change in men and women. FASEB J 46:1824–1829
Cavagna GA, Franzetti P (1986) The determinants of the step frequency in walking in humans. J Physiol (Lond) 373:235–242
Cavagna GA, Thys H, Zamboni A (1976) The sources of external work in level walking and running. J Physiol (Lond) 262:639–657
Chapman EA, deVries HA, Swezey R (1972) Joint stiffness: effects of exercise on young and old men. J Gerontol 27:218–221
Critchley M (1931) The neurology of old age. Lancet I:1221–1230
Crowinshield RD, Brand RA, Johnston RC (1978) The effects of walking velocity and age on hip kinematics and kinetics. Clin Orthop 132:140–144
Delwaide PJ, Delmotte P (1989) Comparison of normal senile gait with parkinsonian gait. In: Calne DB, Crippa D, Comi G, Horowski R, Trabucchi M (eds) Parkinsonism and aging. Raven Press. New York, pp 229–237
Finley FR, Cody KA, Finizie RV (1969) Locomotion patterns in elderly women. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 50:140–146
Grieve DW (1968) Gait patterns and the speed of walking. Bio-Med Eng 3:119–122
Hageman PA, Blanke DJ (1986) Comparison of gait of young women and elderly women. Phys Ther 66:1382–1387
Heglund NC, Taylor CR (1988) Speed, stride frequency and energy cost per stride: how do they change with body size and gait? J Exp Biol 138:301–318
Imms FJ, Edholm OG (1981) Studies of gait and mobility in the elderly. Age Ageing 10:147–156
Inman VT, Ralston HJ, Todd F (1981) Human walking. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 22–77
Jansen EC, Vittas D, Hellberg S, Hansen J (1982) Normal gait of young and old men and women: ground reaction force measurement on a treadmill. Acta Orthop Scand 53:193–196
Kirtley C, Whittle MW, Jefferson RJ (1985) Influence of walking speed on gait parameters. J Biomed Eng 7:282–288
Koller WC, Glatt SL, Fox JH (1985) Senile gait, a distinct neurologic entity. Clin Geriatr Med 1:661–668
Larish DD, Martin PE, Mungiole M (1988) Characteristic patterns of gait in the healthy old. Ann NY Acad Sci 515:18–31
Murray MP (1967) Gait as a total pattern of movement. Am J Phys Med 46:290–333
Murray MP, Clarkson BH (1966) The vertical pathways of the foot during level walking. I. Range of variability in normal men. J Am Phys Ther Assoc 46:585–589
Murray MP, Kory RC, Clarkson BH, Sepic SB (1966) A comparison of free and fast speed walking patterns of normal men. Am J Phys Med 45:8–24
Murray MP, Sepic SB, Barnard EJ (1967) Patterns of sagittal rotation of the upper limbs in walking. J Am Phys Ther Assoc 47:272–284
Murray MP, Kory RC, Clarkson BH (1969) Walking patterns in healthy old men. J Gerontol 24:169–178
Murray MP, Kory RC, Sepic SB (1970) Walking patterns of normal women. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 51:637–650
Newman G, Dovenmuehle RH, Busse EW (1960) Alterations in neurologic status with age. J Am Geriatr Soc 8:915–917
Nilsson J, Thorstensson A (1987) Adaptability in frequency and amplitude of leg movements during human locomotion at different speeds. Acta Physiol Scand 129:107–114
Prakash C, Stern G (1973) Neurological signs in the elderly. Age Ageing 2:24–27
Winter DA (1987) The biomechanics and motor control of human gait. University of Waterloo Press, Ontario, pp 1–44
Wolfson L, Whipple R, Amerman P, Tobin JN (1990) Gait assessment in the elderly: a gait abnormality rating scale and its relation to falls. J Gerontol 45:M12-M19
Zarrugh MY, Todd FN, Ralston HJ (1974) Optimization of energy expenditure during level walking. Eur J Appl Physiol 33:293–306
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Elble, R.J., Thomas, S.S., Higgins, C. et al. Stride-dependent changes in gait of older people. J Neurol 238, 1–5 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319700
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319700