Age and Ageing Advance Access originally published online on March 5, 2009
Age and Ageing 2009 38(3):290-295; doi:10.1093/ageing/afp017
A population-based study of sensorimotor factors affecting gait in older people
1 Menzies Research Institute, Private Bag 23, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
2 Gait CCRE, Hugh Williamson Gait Analysis Service, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
3 Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Randwick, Sydney 2031, Australia
4 Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
Address correspondence to: Michele L. Callisaya. Tel: +61-362267747; Fax: +61-362267704. E-mail: michelec{at}utas.edu.au
Background: the study of factors associated with age-related gait decline may assist in developing methods to preserve mobility in older people.
Objective: to examine the associations between sensorimotor factors relevant to ageing and gait in the general older population.
Design: cross-sectional population-based study.
Methods: participants aged 60–86 years (n = 278) were randomly selected using electoral roll sampling. Sensorimotor factors (quadriceps strength, reaction time, postural sway, proprioception and visual contrast sensitivity) were measured using the Physiological Profile Assessment. Gait variables (speed, cadence, step length, double support phase and step width) were recorded with a GAITRite walkway. Linear regression was used to model relationships between sensorimotor and gait variables.
Results: mean age of participants was 72.4 (7.0) years with 154 (55%) males. Better quadriceps strength, reaction time and postural sway (in men) predicted faster gait speed due to their effects on step length and/or cadence. Body weight (in men) and visual contrast sensitivity (in women) were modifying factors in these relationships. Better postural sway, reaction time (in men) and quadriceps strength (in women) predicted reduced double support phase. Modifying factors were quadriceps strength (in men) and proprioception (in women). Postural sway was the sole predictor of step width and in women only.
Conclusion: potentially modifiable sensorimotor factors were associated with a range of gait measures, with a different pattern of individual associations and interactions seen between the sexes. These results provide further mechanistic insights towards explaining age-related gait decline in the general older population.
Keywords: ageing, gait, sensorimotor, population-based study, elderly
Received 21 August 2008; accepted in revised form 19 December 2008.