Kinetic comparison of older men and women during walk-to-stair descent transition

Stair walking is one of the most challenging tasks for older adults, with women reporting higher incidence of falls. The purpose of this study was to investigate the gender differences in kinetics during stair descent transition. Twenty-eight participants (12 male and 16 female; 68.5 and 69.0 years of mean age, respectively) performed stair descent from level walking in a step-over-step manner at a self-selected speed over a custom-made three-step staircase with embedded force plates. Kinematic and force data were combined using inverse dynamics to generate kinetic data for gender comparison. The top and the first step on the staircase were chosen for analysis. Women showed a higher trail leg peak hip abductor moment (−1.0 N m/kg), lower trail leg peak knee extensor moment and eccentric power (0.74 N m/kg and 3.15 W/kg), and lower peak concentric power at trail leg ankle joint (1.29 W/kg) as compared to men (p < 0.05; −0.82 N m/kg, 0.89 N m/kg, 3.83 W/kg, and 1.78 W/kg, respectively). The lead leg knee eccentric power was also lower in women (p < 0.05). This decreased ability to exert knee control during stair descent transition may predispose women to a higher risk of fall.