Analysis of gait variability during a 6-min walk test in older adults

Abstract Background It is important to understand the factors associated with life space mobility so that mobility disability can be prevented/treated. The purpose of this study was to identify the association between mobility determinants and life space among older adults. Methods This study was a cross-sectional analysis of 249 community-dwelling older adults (mean age=77.4 years, 65.5% female, 88% white) who were recruited for a randomized, controlled, clinical intervention trial. Associations between cognitive, physical, psychosocial, financial, and environmental mobility determinants and the Life Space Assessment (LSA) at baseline were determined using Spearman’s correlation coefficients and one-way analysis of variance. Multivariate analysis was performed using multivariable linear regression models. Results The mean LSA score for the sample was 75.3 (SD=17.8). Personal factors (age, gender, education, comorbidities), cognitive (Trail Making Test A and B), physical (gait speed, lower extremity power, Six Minute Walk Test, Figure of 8 Walk Test, tandem stance, energy cost of walking, and Late Life Function and Disability Function Scale), psychosocial (Modified Gait Efficacy Scale), and financial (neighborhood socio-economic status) domains of mobility were significantly associated with LSA score. In the final regression model, age (β=-0.43), lower extremity power (β=0.03), gait efficacy (β=0.19), and energy cost of walking (β=-57.41) were associated with life space (R 2=0.238). Conclusions Younger age, greater lower extremity power, more confidence in walking, and lower energy cost of walking were associated with greater life space. Clinicians treating individuals with mobility disability should consider personal, physical, and psychosocial factors assessing barriers to life space mobility.

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MUSCLE STRENGTH AS A PREDICTOR OF GAIT VARIABILITY AFTER TWO YEARS IN COMMUNITY-LIVING OLDER ADULTS

Journal of Frailty & Aging ◽

10.14283/jfa.2019.24 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

B. Bogen ◽

R. Moe-Nilssen ◽

M.K. Aaslund ◽

A.H. Ranhoff

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Inertial Sensors ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Knee Extension ◽

Gait Variability ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Uneven Surface ◽

Fast Speed ◽

Z Scores

Background: Stride-to-stride fluctuations, or gait variability, can be captured easily using body worn inertial sensors. Previously, sensor-measured gait variability has been found to be associated with fall risk and central nervous changes. However, further research is needed to clarify the clinical relevance of this method. Objectives: In this study, we look at how gait variability is associated with muscle strength, measured two years earlier. Design, setting and participants: This is study of longitudinal associations. Participants were community-dwelling volunteers between 70-81 years. Measurements: Participants were tested while walking with a single sensor at their lower back, and they walked back and forth over a distance of 6.5 meters under four conditions: at preferred speed, at fast speed, with an added cognitive task, and while walking across an uneven surface. Gait variability in the anteroposterior (AP), mediolateral (ML) and vertical (V) directions was identified. A muscle strength score was composed by transforming hand grip strength, isometric knee extension strength and the 30 second chair rise-test to z-scores and adding them. Results: 56 individuals were analysed (mean age at baseline 75.8 (SD 3.43), 60 percent women). In a backwards regression method using age, gender and baseline walking speed as covariates, muscle strength predicted gait variability after two years for AP variability during preferred speed (Beta= .314, p=.025) and uneven surface walking (Beta=.326, p=.018). Further, muscle strength was associated with ML variability during preferred speed (Beta=.364, p=.048) and fast speed (Beta=.419, p=.042), and V variability during preferred speed (Beta=.402, p=.002), fast speed (Beta=.394, p=.004) and uneven surface walking (Beta=.369, p=.004). Conclusions: Sensor-measured gait variability tended to be associated with muscle strength measured two years earlier. This finding could emphasize the relevance of this relatively novel measure of gait in older adults for both research and clinical practice.

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Role of muscle power output as a mediator between gait variability and gait velocity in hospitalized older adults

Experimental Gerontology ◽

10.1016/j.exger.2019.110631 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 124 ◽

pp. 110631 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mikel L. Sáez de Asteasu ◽

Nicolás Martínez-Velilla ◽

Fabricio Zambom-Ferraresi ◽

Álvaro Casas-Herrero ◽

Robinson Ramirez-Vélez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Power Output ◽

Muscle Power ◽

Gait Variability ◽

Gait Velocity ◽

Hospitalized Older Adults ◽

Muscle Power Output

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Calf Muscle Endurance and Gait Variability among Older Adults

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/01.mss.0000560730.12473.ba ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 51 (Supplement) ◽

pp. 79

Author(s):

Adeola A. Sanni ◽

Kevin McCully

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Gait Variability ◽

Calf Muscle ◽

Muscle Endurance

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A Comparison of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and Field Walking Tests in Community-Dwelling Older Adults With Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Dementia

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2019-0387 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (6) ◽

pp. 911-919

Author(s):

Dereck L. Salisbury ◽

Fang Yu

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Exercise Testing ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing ◽

Alzheimer’S Dementia ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Walking Distance ◽

Walk Test ◽

Alzheimer's Dementia ◽

Cardiopulmonary Exercise

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among peak exercise parameters on 6-min walk test, shuttle walk test, and laboratory-based cardiopulmonary exercise testing in persons with Alzheimer’s dementia. This study is a cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data of 90 participants (age 77.1 [6.6] years, 43% female) from the FIT-AD trial. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing produced significantly higher peak heart rate (118.6 [17.5] vs. 106 [22.8] vs. 106 [18.8] beats/min), rating of perceived exertion (16 [2.1] vs. 12 [2.3] vs. 11 [2.1]), and systolic blood pressure (182 [23.7] vs. 156 [18.9] vs. 150 [16.9] mmHg) compared with the shuttle walk test and 6-min walk test, respectively. Peak walking distance on shuttle walk test (241.3 [127.3] m) and 6-min walk test (365.0 [107.9] m) significantly correlated with peak oxygen consumption (17.1 [4.3] ml·kg−1·min−1) on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (r = .449, p ≤ .001 and r = .435, p ≤ .001), respectively, which is considerably lower than what is seen in older adults and persons with cardiopulmonary diseases.

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