Changes In Gait Patterns: Indicators Of Increased Fall Risk Across Diverse Age Groups

Gait patterns, including measures such as velocity, step length differential, and various temporal aspects of the gait cycle, are essential indicators of an individual's mobility and balance. With aging, changes in these gait metrics are commonly observed and are closely linked to an increased risk of falls. However, detailed evidence on gait changes across different age groups remains limited, particularly in healthy adults. PURPOSE: The primary aim of this study is to identify key gait metrics and evaluate their potential as indicators of increased fall risk across diverse age groups. METHODS: A total of 252 healthy adults aged 19 to 90 years (mean age 49.67 ± 18.22 years; 51.60% women) participated in this study. Participants were divided into young adults (19-39 years), middle-aged adults (40-59 years), and older adults (60+ years) to identify age-related differences. Gait parameters, including velocity, step length differential, swing time, stance time, single and double support times, swing and stance percentages of the gait cycle, and step angle, were measured using the GAITRite system. Each participant completed a two-minute walk at their self-selected speed to capture natural gait behavior. One-way ANOVA was used to compare gait parameters among the age groups. RESULTS: Significant differences in all measured gait parameters across age groups were observed (p < .05). Changes were evident in both men and women, although step length differential (p = .065) and stance time (p = .470) did not show age-related differences in women. Specifically, key metrics associated with fall risk, such as step angle, swing percentage, stance percentage, and single and double support percentages, exhibited clear age-related variations in both men and women. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified distinct age-related changes in gait patterns, particularly in metrics linked to an increased risk of falls. Early identification of these changes provides valuable insights for assessing fall risk and guiding timely interventions to maintain mobility. These findings emphasize the importance of regular gait assessments in clinical practice, supporting proactive fall prevention strategies and enhancing quality of life in aging populations. Supported by: Oklahoma agricultural experiment station funding