Article

This study determined whether manipulations to walking path configuration
influenced six-minute walk test (6MWT) outcomes and assessed how gait variability
changes over the duration of the 6MWT in different walking path configurations.
Healthy older (ODR) and younger (YNG) (n=24) adults completed familiarisation
trials and five randomly ordered experimental trials of the 6MWT with walking
configurations of; 5, 10 and 15m straight lines, a 6m by 3m rectangle (RECT), and
a figure of eight (FIG8). Six-minute walk distance (6MWD) and walking speed
(m.s(-1)) were recorded for all trials and the stride count recorded for
experimental trials. Reflective markers were attached to the sacrum and feet with
kinematic data recorded at 100Hz by a nine-camera motion capture system for 5m,
15m and FIG8 trials, in order to calculate variability in stride and step length,
stride width, stride and step time and double limb support time. Walking speeds
and 6MWD were greatest in the 15m and FIG8 experimental trials in both groups
(p<0.01). Step length and stride width variability were consistent over the 6MWT
duration but greater in the 5m trial vs. the 15m and FIG8 trials (p<0.05). Stride
and step time and double limb support time variability all reduced between 10 and
30 strides (p<0.01). Stride and step time variability were greater in the 5m vs.
15m and FIG8 trials (p<0.01). Increasing uninterrupted gait and walking path
length results in improved 6MWT outcomes and decreased gait variability in older
and younger adults.
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Langue : ANGLAIS