Age-Related Differences in Gait Parameters and Their Association With Fall Risk in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study
Ho Han, Heontae Kim, Hyunjoo KangBackground
Falls are a major cause of morbidity and functional decline among older adults, yet early gait-based markers of fall risk remain unclear.
Objective
To examine age-related differences in spatiotemporal gait parameters and their associations with fall risk among older adults.
Methods
Two hundred participants aged 65 years or older were classified into four age groups and two fall-risk levels using a standardized Fall Risk Assessment. Gait parameters were measured with the IB-GAIT system.
Results
With increasing age, stride length and walking speed decreased, while stance and double support phases increased (
Conclusion
Height-adjusted stride length indicates fall risk.