Gait Characteristics of Adults With Intellectual Disability

Background and Objective. Treadmill gait analysis has been proposed as an attractive alternative for overground walking measuring systems. The purpose of this study was twofold: first to determine spatiotemporal parameters of treadmill gait in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and second to examine whether these parameters are associated with specific functional impairments in this cohort. Method. Eighty-seven relapsing-remitting patients diagnosed with MS, 50 women and 37 men, aged 40.9 ± 11.9 with an expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score of 2.7 ± 1.6, participated in this study. Twenty-five apparently healthy subjects, 14 women and 11 men, aged 38.5 ± 9.4, served as controls. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were obtained using the Zebris FDM-T Treadmill (Zebris Medical GmbH, Germany). People with MS demonstrated significantly shorter steps, extended stride time, wider base of support, longer step time, reduced single support phase, and a prolonged double support phase compared to the healthy controls. The EDSS score was significantly correlated with all spatiotemporal gait parameters. Conclusion. The instrumented treadmill may be an effective tool in assessing ambulation capabilities of people with MS.

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Digital Biomarkers of Cognitive Frailty: The Value of Detailed Gait Assessment Beyond Gait Speed

Gerontology ◽

10.1159/000515939 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

He Zhou ◽

Catherine Park ◽

Mohammad Shahbazi ◽

Michele K. York ◽

Mark E. Kunik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Steady State ◽

Dual Task ◽

Gait Speed ◽

Stride Length ◽

Cognitive Frailty ◽

Single Task ◽

Double Support ◽

Gait Parameters ◽

Digital Biomarkers

Background: Cognitive frailty (CF), defined as the simultaneous presence of cognitive impairment and physical frailty, is a clinical symptom in early-stage dementia with promise in assessing the risk of dementia. The purpose of this study was to use wearables to determine the most sensitive digital gait biomarkers to identify CF. Methods: Of 121 older adults (age = 78.9 ± 8.2 years, body mass index = 26.6 ± 5.5 kg/m2) who were evaluated with a comprehensive neurological exam and the Fried frailty criteria, 41 participants (34%) were identified with CF and 80 participants (66%) were identified without CF. Gait performance of participants was assessed under single task (walking without cognitive distraction) and dual task (walking while counting backward from a random number) using a validated wearable platform. Participants walked at habitual speed over a distance of 10 m. A validated algorithm was used to determine steady-state walking. Gait parameters of interest include steady-state gait speed, stride length, gait cycle time, double support, and gait unsteadiness. In addition, speed and stride length were normalized by height. Results: Our results suggest that compared to the group without CF, the CF group had deteriorated gait performances in both single-task and dual-task walking (Cohen’s effect size d = 0.42–0.97, p < 0.050). The largest effect size was observed in normalized dual-task gait speed (d = 0.97, p < 0.001). The use of dual-task gait speed improved the area under the curve (AUC) to distinguish CF cases to 0.76 from 0.73 observed for the single-task gait speed. Adding both single-task and dual-task gait speeds did not noticeably change AUC. However, when additional gait parameters such as gait unsteadiness, stride length, and double support were included in the model, AUC was improved to 0.87. Conclusions: This study suggests that gait performances measured by wearable sensors are potential digital biomarkers of CF among older adults. Dual-task gait and other detailed gait metrics provide value for identifying CF above gait speed alone. Future studies need to examine the potential benefits of gait performances for early diagnosis of CF and/or tracking its severity over time.

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Effects of Torso Pitch Motion on Energy Efficiency of Biped Robot Walking

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11052342 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 2342

Author(s):

Long Li ◽

Zhongqu Xie ◽

Xiang Luo ◽

Juanjuan Li

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficiency ◽

Energy Consumption ◽

Biped Robot ◽

Gait Pattern ◽

Pattern Generation ◽

Biped Robots ◽

Pitch Motion ◽

Double Support ◽

Gait Parameters ◽

Support Phase

Gait pattern generation has an important influence on the walking quality of biped robots. In most gait pattern generation methods, it is usually assumed that the torso keeps vertical during walking. It is very intuitive and simple. However, it may not be the most efficient. In this paper, we propose a gait pattern with torso pitch motion (TPM) during walking. We also present a gait pattern with torso keeping vertical (TKV) to study the effects of TPM on energy efficiency of biped robots. We define the cyclic gait of a five-link biped robot with several gait parameters. The gait parameters are determined by optimization. The optimization criterion is chosen to minimize the energy consumption per unit distance of the biped robot. Under this criterion, the optimal gait performances of TPM and TKV are compared over different step lengths and different gait periods. It is observed that (1) TPM saves more than 12% energy on average compared with TKV, and the main factor of energy-saving in TPM is the reduction of energy consumption of the swing knee in the double support phase and (2) the overall trend of torso motion is leaning forward in double support phase and leaning backward in single support phase, and the amplitude of the torso pitch motion increases as gait period or step length increases.

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The Effects of Systematic Environmental Manipulation on Gait of Older Adults

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare8040386 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 386

Author(s):

Max Toepfer ◽

Alejandra Padilla ◽

Kevin Ponto ◽

Andrea H Mason ◽

Kristen A Pickett

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Small Scale ◽

Gait Patterns ◽

Double Support ◽

Single Dimension ◽

Adult Participants ◽

Gait Parameters ◽

Systematic Manipulation

Quantification of gait changes in response to altered environmental stimuli may allow for improved understanding of the mechanisms that influence gait changes and fall occurrence in older adults. This study explored how systematic manipulation of a single dimension of one’s environment affects spatiotemporal gait parameters. A total of 20 older adult participants walked at a self-selected pace in a constructed research hallway featuring a mobile wall, which allowed manipulation of the hallway width between three conditions: 1.14 m, 1.31 m, and 1.48 m. Spatiotemporal data from participants’ walks were captured using an instrumented GAITRite mat. A repeated measures ANOVA revealed older adults spent significantly more time in double support in the narrowest hallway width compared to the widest, but did not significantly alter other spatiotemporal measures. Small-scale manipulations of a single dimension of the environment led to subtle, yet in some cases significant changes in gait, suggesting that small or even imperceptible environmental changes may contribute to altered gait patterns for older adults.

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Short-latency inhibition mitigates the relationship between conscious movement processing and overly cautious gait

Age and Ageing ◽

10.1093/ageing/afaa230 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Toby J Ellmers ◽

Elmar C Kal ◽

James K Richardson ◽

William R Young

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Step Length ◽

Berg Balance Scale ◽

Short Latency ◽

Gait Velocity ◽

Functional Balance ◽

Inhibitory Function ◽

Gait Parameters ◽

Base Of Support ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background Overly cautious gait is common in older adults. This is characterised by excessively slow gait, shortened steps, broadened base of support and increased double limb support. The current study sought to (1) evaluate if overly cautious gait is associated with attempts to consciously process walking movements, and (2) explore whether an individual’s ability to rapidly inhibit a dominant motor response serves to mitigate this relationship. Methods A total of 50 older adults walked at a self-selected pace on an instrumented walkway containing two raised wooden obstacles (height = 23 cm). Trait conscious movement processing was measured with the Movement-Specific Reinvestment Scale. Short-latency inhibitory function was assessed using a validated electronic go/no-go ruler catch protocol. We used linear regressions to explore the relationship between these variables and gait parameters indicative of overly cautious gait. Results When controlling for general cognitive function (MoCA), and functional balance (Berg Balance Scale), the interaction between trait conscious movement processing and short-latency inhibition capacity significantly predicted gait velocity, step length and double limb support. Specifically, older adults with higher trait conscious movement processing and poorer inhibition were more likely to exhibit gait characteristics indicative of cautious gait (i.e. reduced velocity, shorter step lengths and increased double limb support). Neither conscious movement processing nor inhibition independently predicted gait performance. Conclusion The combination of excessive movement processing tendencies and poor short-latency inhibitory capacity was associated with dysfunctional or ‘overly cautious’ gait. It is therefore plausible that improvement in either factor may lead to improved gait and reduced fall risk.

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Fall Risk in Older Adults Transitioning between Different Flooring Materials

Sci ◽

10.3390/sci1030063 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 63

Author(s):

Hyung Kim ◽

Thurmon Lockhart

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Whole Body ◽

Contact Phase ◽

Old Adults ◽

Gait Characteristics ◽

Gait Parameters ◽

Heel Contact ◽

Flooring Materials

As there is lack of understanding about the effect of transitioning between different flooring materials on the gait of older adults, this study investigated the effect of transitioning between a carpeted floor and a vinyl floor on the gait characteristics of older adults. Fourteen older (65 years old and over) and 14 younger (18 to 35 years old) adults walked on different transitional floors by measuring various gait parameters. While the older participants had greater toe clearance than their younger counterparts, the older participants had smaller toe clearance on a carpeted floor than on a vinyl floor, which would increase the probability of a trip-induced fall. Further, the study found the slower transitional acceleration of the whole body COM and the increased friction demand, especially during the toe-off phase, rather than heel contact phase, which will lead to a slip-induced fall on a vinyl floor shortly after transitioning from a carpeted floor to a vinyl floor. Although the increased likelihood of a slip or trip accident was found throughout the changes in gait parameters, the older participants did not perceive of slipping and tripping much. Therefore, older adults are recommended to be made aware of the danger of slipping and tripping while transitioning between different flooring materials.

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Preferred Gait Characteristics in Young Adults in Qatar: Physiological, Perceptual, and Spatiotemporal Analysis

SAGE Open ◽

10.1177/2158244020945721 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 215824402094572

Author(s):

Lina Majed ◽

Clint Hansen ◽

Olivier Girard

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Metabolic Cost ◽

Spatiotemporal Analysis ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Cost Of Transport ◽

Gait Characteristics ◽

Gait Parameters ◽

Spatiotemporal Parameters ◽

Support Phase

Preferred walking speed (PWS) is considered a robust measure for assessing mobility and overall health. Healthy reference data are unavailable for Qatar. The aim of this study was to investigate PWS and underlying gait parameters around PWS among healthy young adults living in Qatar. PWS was assessed for 18 Qataris (9 females) and 16 non-Qatari Arabs residing in Qatar (9 females). Within- and between-gender group comparisons were carried out using Mann–Whitney U-tests. Metabolic cost of transport, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and spatiotemporal parameters were compared between Qatari and non-Qatari groups of similar gender at seven speed levels relative to PWS using two-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs). Similar comparisons were done at two absolute speeds using Mann–Whitney U-tests. While PWS did not differ significantly between the female groups, it was on average 19% slower for the Qatari males as compared to non-Qatari males. At similar relative speeds, differences appeared solely in physiological parameters between female groups. Only spatiotemporal differences were revealed between the male groups where longer stride and support phase durations and slower stride frequencies characterized the Qatari male group. It is suggested that differences in PWS could be due to potential cultural factors (e.g., cultural clothing) differentiating the Qatari and non-Qatari groups. PWS values reported in this study also appear systematically lower when compared to Western references found in the literature. Findings suggest that the assessment of normative gait values needs to take both cultural habits and geographic disparity into account.

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The Effects of Mobile Texting and Walking Speed on Gait Characteristics of Normal Weight and Obese Adults

Motor Control ◽

10.1123/mc.2020-0006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 588-604

Author(s):

Jongil Lim ◽

Jiyeon Kim ◽

Kyoungho Seo ◽

Richard E.A. van Emmerik ◽

Sukho Lee

Keyword(s):

Dual Task ◽

Walking Speed ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Obese Adults ◽

Double Support ◽

Gait Characteristics ◽

Gait Parameters ◽

Dual Task Cost ◽

Gait Mechanics ◽

Stance Time

The aim of this study was to examine how usage of mobile devices while simultaneously walking affects walking characteristics and texting performance of normal weight (NW) and obese (OB) individuals. Thirty-two OB (body mass index [BMI] = 34.4) and NW (BMI = 22.7) adults performed two 60-s walking trials at three-step frequencies along a rectangular walkway in two conditions (No Texting and Texting). Dual-task cost as well as unadjusted spatial and temporal gait characteristics were measured. Dual-task costs for the gait parameters as well as texting performance were not different between the groups, except for the lateral step variability showing a larger variability at the preferred frequency in OB individuals. For the unadjusted variables, OB exhibited longer double support, longer stance time, and lower turn velocity compared with NW. Overall, the results highlight a similar dual-task cost for the OB individuals compared with the NW individuals, in spite of underlying differences in gait mechanics.

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Fall Risk in Older Adults Transitioning between Different Flooring Materials

Sci ◽

10.3390/sci1030066 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 66

Author(s):

Hyung Kim ◽

Thurmon Lockhart

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Whole Body ◽

Contact Phase ◽

Old Adults ◽

Gait Characteristics ◽

Gait Parameters ◽

Heel Contact ◽

Flooring Materials

As there is lack of understanding about the effect of transitioning between different flooring materials on the gait of older adults, this study investigated the effect of transitioning between a carpeted floor and a vinyl floor on the gait characteristics of older adults. Fourteen older (65 years old and over) and 14 younger (18 to 35 years old) adults walked on different transitional floors by measuring various gait parameters. While the older participants had greater toe clearance than their younger counterparts, the older participants had smaller toe clearance on a carpeted floor than on a vinyl floor, which would increase the probability of a trip-induced fall. Further, the study found the slower transitional acceleration of the whole body COM and the increased friction demand, especially during the toe-off phase, rather than heel contact phase, which will lead to a slip-induced fall on a vinyl floor shortly after transitioning from a carpeted floor to a vinyl floor. Although the increased likelihood of a slip or trip accident was found throughout the changes in gait parameters, the older participants did not perceive of slipping and tripping much. Therefore, older adults are recommended to be made aware of the danger of slipping and tripping while transitioning between different flooring materials.

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Hemodialysis Impact on Motor Function Beyond Aging and Diabetes – Objectively Assessing Gait and Balance by Wearable Technology

10.20944/preprints201809.0529.v1 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

He Zhou ◽

Fadwa Al-Ali ◽

Hadi Rahemi ◽

Nishat Kulkarni ◽

Abdullah Hamad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Motor Function ◽

Effect Size ◽

Motor Performance ◽

Stride Length ◽

Gait Cycle ◽

Center Of Mass ◽

Static Balance ◽

Double Support ◽

Gait Parameters

Motor functions are deteriorated by aging. Some conditions may magnify this deterioration. To examine whether hemodialysis (HD) process would negatively impact gait and balance beyond diabetes condition among mid-age adults (48-64 years) and older adults (65+ years). One hundred and ninety-six subjects (age=66.2±9.1 years, body-mass-index=30.1±6.4 kg/m2, female=56%) in 5 groups were recruited: mid-age adults with diabetes undergoing HD (Mid-age HD+, n=38) and without HD (Mid-age HD-, n=40); older adults with diabetes undergoing HD (Older HD+, n=36) and without HD (Older HD-, n=37); and non-diabetic older adults (Older DM-, n=45). Gait parameters (stride velocity, stride length, gait cycle time, and double support) and balance parameters (ankle, hip, and center of mass sways) were quantified using validated wearable platforms. Groups with diabetes had overall poorer gait and balance compared to the non-diabetic group (p<0.050). Among people with diabetes, the HD+ had significantly worsened gait and balance when comparing to the HD- (Cohen’s effect size d=0.63-2.32, p<0.050). Between-group difference was more pronounced among older adults with the largest effect size observed for stride length (d=2.32, p<0.001). Results suggested that deterioration in gait speed among the HD+ was correlated with age (r=-0.440, p<0.001), while this correlation was diminished among the HD-. Interestingly, results also suggested that poor gait in the Older HD- related to poor balance, while no correlation was observed between poor balance and poor gait among the Older HD+. Using objective assessments, results confirmed that the presence of diabetes can deteriorate gait and balance, and this deterioration can be magnified by HD process. Among non-HD people with diabetes, poor static balance described poor gait. However, among people with diabetes undergoing HD, age was a dominate factor describing poor gait irrespective of static balance. Results also suggested feasibility of using wearable platforms to quantify motor performance during routine dialysis clinic visits. These objective assessments may assist in identifying early deterioration in motor function, which in turn may promote timely intervention.

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