Article

The aim of this study was to establish quantitative norms for trunk sway during
walking for older male and female ambulatory adults at different age groups
(65-70, 71-75, 76-80, >/=81). We also assessed the relationship between dynamic
trunk sway and gait velocity in older individuals with clinically normal or
abnormal gaits. Trunk sway in medio-lateral (roll) and antero-posterior (pitch)
planes was measured using a body-mounted gyroscope (SwayStar) during walking on a
4.5 m long instrumented walkway. Of the 284 older adults (mean age 76.8, 54.6%
women) in this sample, the mean +/- SD value of roll and pitch angles were 6.0
+/- 2.0 degrees and 6.7 +/- 2.2 degrees respectively. Older women showed
significantly greater trunk sway in both roll and pitch angles than older men
(p<0.01). In both men and women, there was no significant association of roll
angle with age although gait velocity decreased with increasing age. The
relationship between roll angle and gait velocity was U-shaped for the overall
sample. Among the subgroup with clinically normal gait, increased roll angle was
associated with increased gait velocity (p<0.001). However, there was no
significant relationship between roll angle and gait velocity among the subgroup
with abnormal gait. Therefore, the relationship between medio-lateral trunk sway
and gait velocity differs depending on whether gait is clinically normal. We
conclude that trunk sway during walking should be interpreted with consideration
of both gait velocity and presence of gait abnormality in older adults.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS