Analyses Of Gait Parameters And Fall Risk In Korean Older Adults

Millions of older adults, equivalent to more than one out of four, fall each year. As the first fall doubles one’s chances of falling again, fall prevention in older adults is a public health priority. It was well established that most falls occur on the flat during walking. Thus, identifying the changes in gait parameters before experiencing the first fall may be a strong predictor of falling. PURPOSE: To examine gait parameters in older adults associated with the risk of falls. METHODS: Two hundred older adults (72.8 ± 5.6 years; 74% women) participated in the study. Participants’ gait parameters were measured through a gait analysis system. The Fall Risk Assessment (FRA) system measuring sensory, nervous, integrated balance abilities, and musculoskeletal systems was used to assess participants’ risk of falls. Participants were classified into one of two groups: low- and high-risk of falls based on the FRA scores. Independent t-tests were used to compare the gait parameters between the two groups. Also, one-way ANOVAs were performed to compare the differences in gait parameters by age (65-69, 70-74, 75-79, and ≥ 80 years). Lastly, Pearson correlation and logistic regression were used to examine the relationship between step length and risk of falls. RESULTS: For both men and women, there were significant differences (p < .001) in all gait parameters between the two groups except for cadence in men. There were also significant changes in trends of gait parameters by age in both men and women except for cadence in men (Ptrend <.001). Lastly, significant positive correlations were observed between adjusted stride length (stride length/height) and the FRA scores (r = .524 and .323 for men and women, respectively). For both men and women, the participants in the fourth quartile (shorter) of adjusted stride length were more likely to increase the risk of falls (OR = 9.10 and 7.88; 95% CI: 1.39, 59.62 and 2.50, 24.84 for men and women, respectively) compared to the first quartile (longer). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of falls in older adults was increased by the changes in gait parameters such as shorter and slower gait cycles and higher proportions of the stance phase and double supporting phase. Gait changes could be a successful indicator for identifying older adults at high-risk of falls.