Citation

Ciprandi D, Zago M, Bertozzi F, Sforza C, Galvani C. J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol. 2018; 43: 1-6.

Affiliation

Applied Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Vle Suzzani 279, I-20162 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: christel.galvani@unicatt.it.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jelekin.2018.07.006

PMID

30125726

Abstract

Typically gait speed decreases and gait variability increases in elderly. The aim of this study was to define the influence of energy cost of walking on gait speed and of health-related physical fitness on gait variability. Thirty healthy young and older women were recruited in the study. Energy cost of walking (Net_CW) was analyzed with indirect calorimetry while a kinematic analysis was performed with an optoelectronic system to calculate gait variability (GV) during treadmill walking at different speeds. Gait speed was defined as the preferred walking speed (PWS) of the subject and health related physical fitness (HRPF) comprised body fat, strength, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness. In healthy elderly women, the coefficient of variation of step width was found to be a better indicator of GV than stride time, stride length and double support coefficients of variation. GV was not affected by age allowing a high PWS. Furthermore, significant associations, adjusted for age, body mass index and number of falls, were identified neither between Net_CW and the PWS, nor between HRPF and GV; only a significant association was found between hand-grip strength and gait stability.

FINDINGS highlighted the importance to evaluate hand-grip strength as an indicator of gait efficiency.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Energy cost; Gait variability; Older adults; Physical fitness; Preferred walking speed