Comparison of Gait variables and Relative Risk of Falls According to Walking Speed During Flat and Obstacles Walking of Fallers and Non-Fallers in Korean Elderly Women

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the gait variables and the relative risk of falling between elderly Korean women that fall and do not fall based on the walking speed during flat walking and in the presence of obstacles. METHODS: The study included 148 women, aged 65 years or older (22 fallers, aged 75.05±5.38 years; 126 non-fallers, aged 71.80±5.14 years). The gait variables were measured in a space of 9 m×1 m, and obstacle walking was measured while crossing obstacles measuring, 5 cm and 30 cm. A t-test, correlation analysis, and logistic regression analysis were performed to compare the gait variables to determine if there was a fall and to analyze the relationship and the risk ratio of a fall at a walking speed. RESULTS: Out of 148 participants, 22 participants (14.9%), fell while walking. During flat ground walking, right step length (p<.01) left step length (p<.05), and stride lengths (p<.01) were smaller in the faller group, while the stance phase (p<.01) and double-support time ratio (p<.05) were smaller in the non-faller group. In obstacle walking, slower walking speeds were observed for the 5-cm obstacles (p<.01) and 30-cm obstacles (p<.05) in the faller group. For the low-speed and medium-high speed groups, the odds ratio of the fall experience was 2.844 (1.125-7.191) (p<.05) for flat gait, 3.585 (1.354-9.491) (p<.05) for the 5 cm obstacle, and 4.877 (1.731- 13.742) (p<.01) for the 30 cm obstacle. As the height of the obstacle increased, the fall odds ratio increased. CONCLUSIONS: In the faller group, the step and stride lengths were smaller during flat walking, and the walking speed of the obstacles was low. The low-speed group had a high falling experience odds ratio, and as the height of the obstacle increased, the falling experience odds ratio increased.