Gait characteristics as a function of age and gender

Sixty male and fifty-eight female subjects ranging in age from 20 to 79 years performed walking at a controlled pace barefoot, wearing standard shoes, and wearing their personal shoes. Additionally these subjects performed walking in the standard shoe at a freely selected speed. Selected kinematic variables for the knee and ankle joint complexes and ground reaction forces were measured in three dimensions to determine differences with respect to age and gender. Additionally a comparison of the path of motion during ground contact and the active range of motion measured in a range of motion fixture were made. A multivariate analysis revealed a number of the kinematic and kinetic variables which were significantly different although the absolute differences were generally small. The comparison of path of motion and range of motion revealed a high correlation for abduction and adduction and plantarflexion and dorsiflexion. It is speculated that changes in gait pattern with increasing age are associated with decreasing muscle strength and a need for increased stability during locomotion with increasing age. The high correlation between path of motion and range of motion is associated with the decrease in muscle strength with increasing age, which is assumed to influence both path of motion and range of motion.