scholarly journals Is faster always better? The walking speed-dependency of gait variability in bilateral vestibulopathy

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher McCrum ◽  
Florence Lucieer ◽  
Raymond van de Berg ◽  
Paul Willems ◽  
Angélica Pérez Fornos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Vestibular Function ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Gait Variability ◽  
Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials ◽  
Step Width ◽  
Bilateral Vestibulopathy ◽  
Walking Speeds

AbstractStudy of balance and gait deficits associated with vestibulopathy is important for improving clinical care and is critical to our understanding of the vestibular contributions to gait and balance control. Previous studies report a speed-dependency of the vestibular contributions to gait, so we examined the walking speed effects on gait variability in healthy young and older adults and in adults with bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP). Forty-four people with BVP, 12 healthy young adults and 12 healthy older adults completed walking trials at 0.4m/s to 1.6m/s in 0.2m/s intervals on a dual belt, instrumented treadmill. Using a motion capture system and kinematic data, the means and coefficients of variation for step length, time, width and double support time were calculated. The BVP group also completed a video head impulse test and examinations of ocular and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and dynamic visual acuity. Walking speed significantly affected all assessed gait parameters. Step length variability at slower speeds and step width variability at faster speeds were the most distinguishing parameters between the healthy participants and people with BVP, and within people with BVP with different locomotor capacities. We observed for step width variability, specifically, an apparent persistent importance of vestibular function at increasing speeds. Gait variability was not associated with the clinical vestibular tests. Our results indicate that gait variability at multiple walking speeds has potential as an assessment tool for vestibular interventions.New & Noteworthy:Walking speed significantly but differentially affects gait variability in healthy adults and in adults with bilateral vestibulopathy. Gait variability at different speeds distinguishes between participants with and without bilateral vestibulopathy, but also between more and less able walkers with bilateral vestibulopathy. Specifically, for step width variability, an apparent persistent importance of vestibular function at increasing walking speeds was observed. Gait variability was generally not correlated with clinical tests of vestibular function.

scholarly journals The walking speed-dependency of gait variability in bilateral vestibulopathy and its association with clinical tests of vestibular function

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher McCrum ◽  
Florence Lucieer ◽  
Raymond van de Berg ◽  
Paul Willems ◽  
Angélica Pérez Fornos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Walking Speed ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Vestibular Function ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Gait Variability ◽  
Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials ◽  
Head Impulse Test ◽  
Step Width ◽  
Bilateral Vestibulopathy

AbstractUnderstanding balance and gait deficits in vestibulopathy may help improve clinical care and our knowledge of the vestibular contributions to balance. Here, we examined walking speed effects on gait variability in healthy adults and in adults with bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP). Forty-four people with BVP, 12 healthy young adults and 12 healthy older adults walked at 0.4 m/s to 1.6 m/s in 0.2 m/s increments on a dual belt, instrumented treadmill. Using motion capture and kinematic data, the means and coefficients of variation for step length, time, width and double support time were calculated. The BVP group also completed a video head impulse test and examinations of ocular and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and dynamic visual acuity. Walking speed significantly affected all gait parameters. Step length variability at slower speeds and step width variability at faster speeds were the most distinguishing parameters between the healthy participants and people with BVP, and among people with BVP with different locomotor capacities. Step width variability, specifically, indicated an apparent persistent importance of vestibular function at increasing speeds. Gait variability was not associated with the clinical vestibular tests. Our results indicate that gait variability at multiple walking speeds has potential as an assessment tool for vestibular interventions.

scholarly journals Speed-related but not detrended gait variability increases with more sensitive self-paced treadmill controllers at multiple slopes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cesar R. Castano ◽  
Helen J. Huang
Keyword(s):  
Step Length ◽  
Gait Variability ◽  
The Self ◽  
Step Width ◽  
Step Frequency ◽  
Gait Biomechanics ◽  
Treadmill Speed ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Walking Speeds ◽  
Speed Fluctuations

AbstractSelf-paced treadmills are being used more and more to study humans walking with their self-selected gaits on a range of slopes. There are multiple options to purchase a treadmill with or implement a custom written self-paced controller, which raises questions about how self-paced controller affect treadmill speed and gait biomechanics on multiple slopes. This study investigated how different self-paced treadmill controller sensitivities affected gait parameters and variability on a decline, level, and incline slopes. We hypothesized that increasing self-paced controller sensitivity would increase gait variability on each slope. We also hypothesized that detrended variability could help mitigate differences in variability that arise from differences in speed fluctuations created by the self-paced controllers. Ten young adults walked on a self-paced treadmill using three self-paced controller sensitivities (low, medium, and high) and fixed speeds at three slopes (decline, −10°; level, 0°; incline, +10°). Within each slope, average walking speeds and spatiotemporal gait parameters were similar regardless of self-paced controller sensitivity. With higher controller sensitivities on each slope, speed fluctuations, speed variance, and step length variance increased whereas step frequency variance and step width variance were unaffected. Detrended variance was not affected by controller sensitivity suggesting that detrending variability helps mitigate differences associated with treadmill speed fluctuations. Speed-trend step length variances, however, increased with more sensitive controllers. Further, detrended step length variances were similar for self-paced and fixed speed walking, whereas self-paced walking included substantial speed-trend step length variance not present in fixed speed walking. In addition, regardless of the self-paced controller, subjects walked fastest on the level slope with the longest steps, widest steps, and least variance. Overall, our findings suggest that separating gait variability into speed-trend and detrended variability could be beneficial for interpreting gait variability among multiple self-paced treadmill studies and when comparing self-paced walking with fixed speed walking.

scholarly journals Speed-related but not detrended gait variability increases with more sensitive self-paced treadmill controllers at multiple slopes

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0251229
Author(s):  
Cesar R. Castano ◽  
Helen J. Huang
Keyword(s):  
Step Length ◽  
Gait Variability ◽  
The Self ◽  
Step Width ◽  
Step Frequency ◽  
Gait Biomechanics ◽  
Treadmill Speed ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Walking Speeds ◽  
Speed Fluctuations

Self-paced treadmills are being used more frequently to study humans walking with their self-selected gaits on a range of slopes. There are multiple options to purchase a treadmill with a built-in controller, or implement a custom written self-paced controller, which raises questions about how self-paced controller affect treadmill speed and gait biomechanics on multiple slopes. This study investigated how different self-paced treadmill controller sensitivities affected gait parameters and variability on decline, level, and incline slopes. We hypothesized that increasing self-paced controller sensitivity would increase gait variability on each slope. We also hypothesized that detrended variability could help mitigate differences in variability that arise from differences in speed fluctuations created by the self-paced controllers. Ten young adults walked on a self-paced treadmill using three controller sensitivities (low, medium, and high) and fixed speeds at three slopes (decline, -10°; level, 0°; incline, +10°). Within each slope, average walking speeds and spatiotemporal gait parameters were similar regardless of self-paced controller sensitivity. With higher controller sensitivities on each slope, speed fluctuations, speed variance, and step length variance increased whereas step frequency variance and step width variance were unaffected. Detrended variance was not affected by controller sensitivity suggesting that detrending variability helps mitigate differences associated with treadmill speed fluctuations. Speed-trend step length variances, however, increased with more sensitive controllers. Further, detrended step length variances were similar for self-paced and fixed speed walking, whereas self-paced walking included substantial speed-trend step length variance not present in fixed speed walking. In addition, regardless of the self-paced controller, subjects walked fastest on the level slope with the longest steps, narrowest steps, and least variance. Overall, our findings suggest that separating gait variability into speed-trend and detrended variability could be beneficial for interpreting gait variability among multiple self-paced treadmill studies and when comparing self-paced walking with fixed speed walking.

Gait Parameters of Older Adults according to Their Fall History and Functional Capacity While Walking at Different Speeds

Gerontology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Letícia Pophal da Silva ◽  
Natália Boneti Moreira ◽  
Paulo Barbosa de Freitas ◽  
Gleber Pereira ◽  
André Luiz Felix Rodacki
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Spatiotemporal Parameters ◽  
Walking Speeds

Introduction: It is believed that functional capacity and fall history are factors capable of influencing the gait parameters of older adults. Thus, the objective of this study was to verify whether gait parameters of community-dwelling older adults differ according to their functional capacity and fall history when walking at self-selected walking speed (SSWS) and fast walking speed (FWS) using principal component analysis (PCA). Methods: Two hundred ninety-five participants (82.3% women and 17.7% men) were allocated in four groups according to their fall history and functional capacity: non-fallers with higher functional capacity (NFHFC, n = 94; 69.3 ± 5.5 years), non-fallers with lower functional capacity (NFLFC, n = 114; 72.0 ± 8.1 years), fallers with higher functional capacity (FHFC, n = 29; 70.0 ± 6.0 years), and fallers with lower functional capacity (FLFC, n = 58; 72.5 ± 8.2 years). Fall history, anthropometric data, functional capacity by short physical performance battery and mobility by Timed Up and Go (TUG), and spatiotemporal gait parameters were evaluated. Results: Data analysis indicated that FLFC presented the lowest scores, especially in the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test and TUG. The PCA showed that the first principal component (PC1) explained the most substantial amount of the data variability in both walking speeds (SSWS and FWS), predominantly including temporal parameters. PC2 composed by spatial outcomes (stride and step length and walking speed) showed the highest effect size. PC1 and PC2 were able to differentiate functional status, regardless of fall history. Conclusions: Functional capacity showed great importance when analyzing gait parameters at different walking speeds (SSWS and FWS), regardless of fall history. Older adults with high functional capacity demonstrate better performance during gait. Besides, spatiotemporal parameters are the main factors explaining gait variability, both in SSWS and FWS.

scholarly journals Regional Associations of Cortical Thickness With Gait Variability: The Tasmanian Study of Cognition and Gait

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 232-233
Author(s):  
Oshadi Jayakody ◽  
Monique Breslin ◽  
Richard Beare ◽  
Velandai Srikanth ◽  
Helena Blumen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Gait Variability ◽  
Thickness Ratio ◽  
Sensory Function ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
Step Width ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
Regional Associations

Abstract Gait variability is a marker of cognitive decline. However, there is limited understanding of the cortical regions associated with gait variability. We examined associations between regional cortical thickness and gait variability in a population-based sample of older people without dementia. Participants (n=350, mean age 71.9±7.1) were randomly selected from the electoral roll. Variability in step time, step length, step width and double support time (DST) were calculated as the standard deviation of each measure, obtained from the GAITRite walkway. MRI scans were processed through FreeSurfer to obtain cortical thickness of 68 regions. Bayesian regression was used to determine regional associations of mean cortical thickness and thickness ratio (regional thickness/overall mean thickness) with gait variability. Smaller overall cortical thickness was only associated with greater step width and step time variability. Smaller mean thickness in widespread regions important for sensory, cognitive and motor functions were associated with greater step width and step time variability. In contrast, smaller thickness in a few frontal and temporal regions were associated with DST variability and the right cuneus was associated with step length variability. Smaller thickness ratio in frontal and temporal regions important for motor planning, execution and sensory function and, greater thickness ratio in the anterior cingulate was associated with greater variability in all measures. Examining individual cortical regions is important in understanding the relationship between gray matter and gait variability. Cortical thickness ratio highlights that smaller regional thickness relative to global thickness may be important for the consistency of gait.

scholarly journals A Comparison of Treadmill and Overground Walking Effects on Step Cycle Asymmetry in Young and Older Individuals

2013 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanatsu Nagano ◽  
Rezaul K. Begg ◽  
William A. Sparrow ◽  
Simon Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Step Length ◽  
Treadmill Walking ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Aging Effects ◽  
Overground Walking ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Step Cycle ◽  
Step Velocity

Although lower limb strength becomes asymmetrical with age, past studies of aging effects on gait biomechanics have usually analyzed only one limb. This experiment measured how aging and treadmill surface influenced both dominant and nondominant step parameters in older (mean 74.0 y) and young participants (mean 21.9 y). Step-cycle parameters were obtained from 3-dimensional position/time data during preferred-speed walking for 40 trials along a 10 m walkway and for 10 minutes of treadmill walking. Walking speed (young 1.23 m/s, older 1.24 m/s) and step velocity for the two age groups were similar in overground walking but older adults showed significantly slower walking speed (young 1.26 m/s, older 1.05 m/s) and step velocity on the treadmill due to reduced step length and prolonged step time. Older adults had shorter step length than young adults and both groups reduced step length on the treadmill. Step velocity and length of older adults’ dominant limb was asymmetrically larger. Older adults increased the proportion of double support in step time when treadmill walking. This adaptation combined with reduced step velocity and length may preserve balance. The results suggest that bilateral analyses should be employed to accurately describe asymmetric features of gait especially for older adults.

Changes in the Dynamic Stability of Walking in Active Healthy Older Adults Independent of Changes in Walking Speed

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Gu Kang ◽  
Jonathan B. Dingwell
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Dynamic Stability ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Leg Strength ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Risk Of Falls ◽  
Walking Speeds

Older adults commonly walk slower, which many believe helps improve their walking stability. However, they remain at increased risk of falls. We investigated how differences in age and walking speed independently affect dynamic stability during walking, and how age-related changes in leg strength and ROM affected this relationship. Eighteen active healthy older and 17 younger adults walked on a treadmill for 5 minutes each at each of 5 speeds (80–120% of preferred). Local divergence exponents and maximum Floquet multipliers (FM) were calculated to quantify each subject’s responses to small inherent perturbations during walking. These older adults exhibited the same preferred walking speeds as the younger subjects (p = 0.860). However, these older adults still exhibited greater local divergence exponents (p<0.0001) and higher maximum FM (p<0.007) than young adults at all walking speeds. These older adults remained more unstable (p<0.04) even after adjusting for declines in both strength and ROM. In both age groups, local divergence exponents decreased at slower speeds and increased at faster speeds (p<0.0001). Maximum FM showed similar changes with speed (p<0.02). The older adults in this study were healthy enough to walk at normal speeds. However, these adults were still more unstable than the young adults, independent of walking speed. This greater instability was not explained by loss of leg strength and ROM. Slower speeds led to decreased instability in both groups.

scholarly journals Bilateral vestibulopathy and age: experimental considerations for testing dynamic visual acuity on a treadmill

2020 ◽  
Vol 267 (S1) ◽  
pp. 265-272
Author(s):  
D. Starkov ◽  
M. Snelders ◽  
F. Lucieer ◽  
A. M. L. Janssen ◽  
M. Pleshkov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Static Condition ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Dynamic Visual Acuity ◽  
Bilateral Vestibulopathy ◽  
Drop Out Rate ◽  
Visual Acuity Loss ◽  
Walking Speeds

Abstract Introduction Bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) can affect visual acuity in dynamic conditions, like walking. This can be assessed by testing Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA) on a treadmill at different walking speeds. Apart from BVP, age itself might influence DVA and the ability to complete the test. The objective of this study was to investigate whether DVA tested while walking, and the drop-out rate (the inability to complete all walking speeds of the test) are significantly influenced by age in BVP-patients and healthy subjects. Methods Forty-four BVP-patients (20 male, mean age 59 years) and 63 healthy subjects (27 male, mean age 46 years) performed the DVA test on a treadmill at 0 (static condition), 2, 4 and 6 km/h (dynamic conditions). The dynamic visual acuity loss was calculated as the difference between visual acuity in the static condition and visual acuity in each walking condition. The dependency of the drop-out rate and dynamic visual acuity loss on BVP and age was investigated at all walking speeds, as well as the dependency of dynamic visual acuity loss on speed. Results Age and BVP significantly increased the drop-out rate (p ≤ 0.038). A significantly higher dynamic visual acuity loss was found at all speeds in BVP-patients compared to healthy subjects (p < 0.001). Age showed no effect on dynamic visual acuity loss in both groups. In BVP-patients, increasing walking speeds resulted in higher dynamic visual acuity loss (p ≤ 0.036). Conclusion DVA tested while walking on a treadmill, is one of the few “close to reality” functional outcome measures of vestibular function in the vertical plane. It is able to demonstrate significant loss of DVA in bilateral vestibulopathy patients. However, since bilateral vestibulopathy and age significantly increase the drop-out rate at faster walking speeds, it is recommended to use age-matched controls. Furthermore, it could be considered to use an individual “preferred” walking speed and to limit maximum walking speed in older subjects when testing DVA on a treadmill.

INFLUENCE OF PHYSICAL FITNESS AND ACTIVITY ON WALKING SPEED AND STEP LENGTH IN OLDER ADULTS 654

1996 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 110
Author(s):  
W. C. Beam ◽  
R. E. Rikli ◽  
C. J. Jones ◽  
S. J. Duncan ◽  
B. Lamar
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Walking Speed ◽  
Step Length
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