Analysis of the temporal-spatial parameters of gait at the students of the University of the Third Age

Abstract

Process, which is the aging of the body, begins early. The first changes in the growthphase are noticeable already after the age of 30. An elderly person in society is characterizedby excess time and and might represent a sort of infirmity. However, this stereotypeis increasingly refuted by seniors who spend their free time actively. Older people havethe opportunity to choose more and more ways to spend their time in a more productiveway. They physical activity needs are met by various associations, organizationsand foundations. One of the best-known variants is the University of the Third Ageassociating seniors who want to spend their old age actively developing their interestsand expanding their knowledge. The study conducted among students of the Universityof the Third Age at Collegium Witelona State University in Legnica was aimed at analyzingthe spatio-temporal parameters of gait. The introduction to the gait analysis wasa personal questionnaire, which addressed the issues of professional and motor activityas well as injuries, surgeries, as well as the occurrence of pain while walking alongwith their possible location. The walk research protocol in the G-Sensor measuring accelerometerwas used for the study. The measuring accelerometer recorded the valuesof spatio-temporal parameters, such as step length, walking speed, cadence, and analyzedthe individual gait phases. The obtained results excluded the hypothesis that assumedage as a factor in the occurrence of disturbances in spatio-temporal parameters of gaitin the elderly. The analysis of the obtained values proved the positive influence of physicalactivity on the movement system of people found in the literatur in old age.No pathological gait disturbances were noted among the examined listeners, despitetheir age. The lengthening of the stride, which was noted in the majority of the subjects,was associated with a longer stance phase and a lower value of the cadence, andresulted in an increase in the the active lifestyle of the subjects was reflected in thegait test, and the subsequent analysis of the obtained results confirmed that physicalactivity in students of the University of the Third Age has a positive effect on the agingproces and keeps the movement system in good condition. (Czego dotyczy cudzyswna pocztku zdania?)