Effects of Walking Aids on Spinal Motion and Loading in the Elderly

With the backdrop of an aging global population, the use of walking aids has become increasingly prevalent to support daily activity and independence among the elderly. This study aimed to investigate the effect of walking aids on the spinal motion and joint loading in elderly individuals. A wearable motion capture system was used to collect spinal motion and musculoskeletal modeling software was used to calculate lumbar joints during normal walking and aided walking.the lumbar spine over bended in flexion state in whole gait cycle with the maximum flexion increased by 147.24% by using the walking aid. The maximum reaction force in front-to-rear direction and reaction moment in flexion-extension during aided walking increased by 140.63% and 179.14%, respectively. the findings revealled significant changes in lumbar spine motion, with an increase in flexion and a reduction in lateral bending and axial rotation when using a walking aid. Additionally, the study observed an increase in reaction force and moment at the thoraco-lumbar conjunction, suggesting a more hostile environment that could potentially lead to adverse effects on the lumbar health of the elderly. This study provides valuable data support for the appropriate use of walking aids.