The step length-frequency relationship in physically active community-dwelling older women

Abstract

This study evaluated the step length–frequency relationship in physically active community-dwelling older women in order to investigate whether the relationship between these two spatio-temporal gait parameters changes with increasing age. Forty older women in four age groups, i.e. 64–69, 70–74, 75–79 and 80–85 year olds, participated in the study. Subjects walked at five different self-selected speeds and while simultaneously performing an additional cognitive and/or upper-extremity motor task. Gait parameters were determined from forward accelerations measured by a tri-axial accelerometer on the lower back. All subjects demonstrated a strong linear relationship between step length and step frequency for walking at different speeds. No evidence for a change in the step length–frequency relationship with age was found, suggesting that there are no differences between physically active older women of different age groups regarding the adoption of a “cautious gait”, i.e. a gait pattern characterized by a reduced step length.