Citation

Gill SV. J. Musculoskelet. Neuronal. Interact. 2015; 15(1): 103-108.

Affiliation

Boston University, Department of Occupational Therapy, Boston, MA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, International Society of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

25730658

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate how weight classification influences safety by examining adults' ability to meet a timing constraint: walking to the pace of an audio metronome.

METHODS: With a cross-sectional design, walking parameters were collected as 55 adults with normal (n=30) and overweight (n=25) body mass index scores walked to slow, normal, and fast audio metronome paces.

RESULTS: Between group comparisons showed that at the fast pace, those with overweight body mass index (BMI) had longer double limb support and stance times and slower cadences than the normal weight group (all ps<0.05). Examinations of participants' ability to meet the metronome paces revealed that participants who were overweight had higher cadences at the slow and fast paces (all ps<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that those with overweight BMI alter their gait to maintain biomechanical stability. Understanding how excess weight influences gait adaptation can inform interventions to improve safety for individuals with obesity.

Language: en