OBJECTIVE To determine the factors associated with gait parameters in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS The gait analysis was performed in a large cohort of RA patients, and three basic gait parameters (step length, cadence and gait speed) were calculated. Clinical and laboratory data were also collected. Factors associated with gait parameters were analyzed using multiv...

BACKGROUND Lack of participation in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and slow gait speed have both been associated with poor long-term outcomes in older adults after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Whether the effect of CR participation on outcomes after AMI differs by gait speed is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS We examined the association between gait speed and CR participation at 1 month after...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability of temporal and spatial gait measurements over a one-week period as measured using an instrumented walkway system (GAITRite). METHODS Subjects were tested on two occasions one week apart. Measurements were made at preferred and fast walking speeds using the GAITRite system. Measurements tested included walking s...

BACKGROUND Four-meter gait speed (4MGS) has been associated with functional capacity and overall mortality in elderly patients, and may easily be translated to daily practice. We evaluated the association of 4MGS with meaningful outcomes. METHODS In 70 subjects we conducted the 4MGS, 6-min walk test (6MWT), objectively measured physical activity, and assessed dyspnea, quality of life, and sel...

Standard clinical gait analysis protocols usually limit to test self-selected speed gait: this approach is generally valid and permits time and cost saving. Yet, the literature evidences suggest that some pathologies (especially at onset or subclinical level) may not primarily affect plain gait, but more demanding locomotor tasks. In the present study we therefore propose a multiple-task gait a...

BACKGROUND Manual measurement of 4-meter gait speed by a stopwatch is the gold standard test for functional assessment in older adults. However, the accuracy of this technique may be biased by several factors, including intra- and inter-operator variability. Instrumental techniques of measurement using accelerometers may have a higher accuracy. Studies addressing the concordance between these t...

objectives: ankle foot orthoses (afos) are widely utilized to improve walking ability in hemiplegic patients. the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of rocker bar ankle foot orthosis (rafo) on functional mobility in post-stroke hemiplegic patients. methods: fifteen hemiplegic patients (men and women) who were at least 6-months post-stroke and able to walk without assistive device for at...

BACKGROUND Higher-level gait disorder (HLGD) in older adults is characterized by postural instability, stepping dysrhythmicity, recurrent falls and progressive immobility. Cognitive impairments are frequently associated with HLGD. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to compare gait and cognitive performance before and after the use of rivastigmine in patients with HLGD, free from cognitive i...