An Exploration of the Effects of Gait Speed and Joint Movements on Minimum Toe Clearance Across the Lifespan: A Cross-Sectional Study

The effect of gait speed on minimum toe clearance (MTC) amount may vary across the lifespan due to changes in joint relationships, potentially affecting trip-related fall risk in older adults. We evaluated whether age influences the relationship between gait speed and MTC amount, as well as between joint movements and MTC amount. Optical motion capture data was collected on 62 participants between the ages of 20 and 83 years during 25 gait trials at self-selected normal, fast, and slow speeds. Multilevel models were used for data analysis. Gait speed was associated with a 0.13 cm increase in MTC amount for every meter per second increase in gait speed with other factors constant and was unaffected by age. Ankle dorsi-plantarflexion, knee and hip flexion-extension, and stance hip abduction-adduction changed the MTC amount by 0.05, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.04 cm, respectively, for each degree of joint movement, with other factors constant, and was unaffected by age. Age did not affect the relationship between gait speed and MTC amount, nor the relationship of joint moments with MTC, indicating that these factors may not be associated with trip-related fall risk with healthy aging.