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

Abstract

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.