Variations in spatiotemporal parameters in young and older women while walking at different speeds

Resumen

The relationship between spatial-temporal parameters of walking have been widely described in literature
although this is still unclear, particularly when changes in walking speed occurred. This study aims to investigate
this relationship in healthy women of different ages, while walking at different speeds. Two groups of healthy
women (25 young and 22 elderly) walked at “comfortable” and “fast” speeds. Stride length and frequency, plus
walking speed data were recorded. Their relationship was assessed using bivariate regression analysis and Pearson’s
correlation. Both groups showed that increasing velocity, increased significantly stride length and frequency,
walking comfortably. Nevertheless, differences between groups were highlighted during fast walking. The elderly
maintains a similar walking pattern though reducing the correlation coefficient between the parameters. While
the younger shows significant correlation only between stride frequency and velocity. Concerning stride length
and frequency relationship, both groups exhibit different behaviors between the observed walking speeds. In
conclusion, these results suggest that younger and older women increase walking speed using a pattern only whilst
the effort is perceived as comfortable. Identifying this breaking point in the motor patterns used could help to
identify early possible frailties in older people as well as assess the residual state of their functional capacities.