%0 Journal Article %J J Am Geriatr Soc %D 2001 %T Gait variability in community-dwelling older adults. %A Brach, J S %A Berthold, R %A Craik, R %A VanSwearingen, J M %A Newman, A B %K Aged %K Aged, 80 and over %K Aging %K Body Height %K Body Weight %K Cross-Sectional Studies %K Disability Evaluation %K Female %K Gait %K Humans %K Male %K Residence Characteristics %K Risk Factors %K Time Factors %K Walking %X

OBJECTIVES: To describe gait variability at usual and fast walking speeds in community-dwelling older adults and to describe the effects of increasing gait speed on gait variability.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive study.

SETTING: The Cardiovascular Health Study at the University of Pittsburgh.

PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-five community-living older adults, 54 women and 41 men, age 65 and older (mean age +/- standard deviation 79.4 +/- 3.37).

MEASUREMENTS: Gait measured at participant's usual and fast walking speed collected using an instrumented walkway. Step-length and step-width variability were determined using the coefficient of variation.

RESULTS: Step-length variability was greatest in those who walked the slowest (r = -0.66, P < .001); step-width variability was smallest in those who walked the slowest (r -0.37, P < .001). Individuals who could not increase their walking speed (<0.10 m/second) on command had an increase in step-length variability and a decrease in step-width variability, whereas those who could increase their speed (>0.10 m/second) had an increase in step-width variability when walking at a faster speed.

CONCLUSIONS: Step-length and step-width variability have opposite associations with gait speed in older adults. Improvement in step-length and step-width variability with attempted acceleration might be a key factor to examine in future studies of disability risk and therapeutic interventions.

%B J Am Geriatr Soc %V 49 %P 1646-50 %8 2001 Dec %G eng %N 12 %1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11843998?dopt=Abstract %R 10.1046/j.1532-5415.2001.t01-1-49274.x