Gait variability is more strongly associated with walking speed than with age

IF 2.7 3区医学 Q3 NEUROSCIENCES

Gait & posture Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-17 DOI:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.110086

Collin D. Bowersock , Mariana Szklo-Coxe , Eric Schussler , Steven Morrison , Daniel M. Russell

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Based on a complex systems perspective, quantifying the structure of gait variability using nonlinear analysis techniques have been posited to be sensitive to age-related declines in the biological subsystems. This study tested this claim by investigating relationships between age and various measures of gait across the adult lifespan.

Methods

Thirty-four adults ranging from 23 to 71 years old completed a 6-minute walk at their preferred speed. Seventeen measures of gait were quantified, including mean spatiotemporal measures of gait and linear and nonlinear measures of gait variability.

Results

Contrary to expectation, older age was positively correlated (p values <.05) only with coefficient of variation of stride length and sample entropy of stride time (R²s = .12 and.15, respectively). Age was instead most strongly associated (p < .05) with slower preferred gait speed (R² =.23). Compared to age, gait variability measures were more strongly associated with preferred gait speed. Slower walking was associated (p values <.05) with increased coefficient of variation of stride length (R² =.34), sample entropy of stride length (R² =.14), the correlation dimension of knee motion and vertical pelvis motion (R² =.34 and R² =.26, respectively), and decreased sample entropy of stride time (R² =.51) and dynamic stability of mediolateral pelvis motion (R² =.11).

Conclusions

These findings emphasize that measures of gait variability may not be particularly sensitive to the age-related declines in the biological subsystems but rather, are more predictive of preferred walking speed.

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步态变异性与步行速度的关系比与年龄的关系更强。

背景：基于复杂系统的观点，使用非线性分析技术量化步态变异性的结构被认为对生物子系统中与年龄相关的衰退很敏感。这项研究通过调查成年人一生中年龄和各种步态测量之间的关系来验证这一说法。方法：34名年龄从23岁到71岁的成年人以自己喜欢的速度完成6分钟的步行。17项步态测量被量化，包括步态的平均时空测量和步态变异性的线性和非线性测量。结果：与预期相反，年龄的增长与发病呈正相关（p值2s = ）。12、。分别为15)。相反，年龄的相关性最强（p 2 = 0.23）。与年龄相比，步态变异性测量与首选步态速度的相关性更强。与行走速度慢（p值2 = 0.34）、步幅长度样本熵（R2 = 0.14）、膝关节运动与骨盆垂直运动的相关维数（R2 = 0.34、R2 = 0.26）、步幅时间样本熵（R2 = 0.51）和骨盆中外侧运动的动态稳定性（R2 = 0.11）相关。结论：这些发现强调，步态变异性的测量可能对与年龄相关的生物子系统下降并不特别敏感，相反，更能预测首选的步行速度。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Gait & posture 医学-神经科学

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

12.50%

发文量

616

审稿时长

6 months

期刊介绍： Gait & Posture is a vehicle for the publication of up-to-date basic and clinical research on all aspects of locomotion and balance. The topics covered include: Techniques for the measurement of gait and posture, and the standardization of results presentation; Studies of normal and pathological gait; Treatment of gait and postural abnormalities; Biomechanical and theoretical approaches to gait and posture; Mathematical models of joint and muscle mechanics; Neurological and musculoskeletal function in gait and posture; The evolution of upright posture and bipedal locomotion; Adaptations of carrying loads, walking on uneven surfaces, climbing stairs etc; spinal biomechanics only if they are directly related to gait and/or posture and are of general interest to our readers; The effect of aging and development on gait and posture; Psychological and cultural aspects of gait; Patient education.