BACKGROUND Assessment of mobility in geriatric hospital units relies primarily on subjective observation or patient self-reports. We objectively examined the gait speed of hospitalized older patients. METHODS Prospective study of 322 patients 65 years or older admitted from the community to a geriatric hospital unit between March 2008 and October 2009. Associations of gait speed (in meters pe...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in hip, knee and ankle kinematic variables of the lower extremities at different gait speeds. [Subjects and Methods] Forty healthy subjects who had no previous history of neurological, musculo-skeletal or other medical conditions that could affect gait were recruited. The subjects were asked to walk 10 m down a walkway at three ...

OBJECTIVES To compare the value of clinically measured gait speed with that of the self-reported Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Survey Physical Function Index (SF-36 PF) in predicting future preclinical mobility disability (PCMD) in older women. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Forty clinical centers in the United States. PARTICIPANTS Women aged 65 to 79 enrolled in the...

Objectives: The aim of this study was to extract suitable spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters to determine how Total Knee Replacement (TKR) alters patients’ knee kinematics during gait, using a rapid and simplified quantitative two-dimensional gait analysis procedure. Methods: Two-dimensional kinematic gait pattern of 10 participants were collected before and after the TKR surgery,...

OBJECTIVE To determine if gait speed or walking distance is a better predictor for community walking after stroke. METHODS Data from the FIT-Stroke trial were used in a cross-sectional design. Community walking was measured with a self-administered questionnaire. The 5-m timed walk and the 6-min walk were used to assess gait speed and walking distance. With bivariate regression analyses the a...

BACKGROUND Improved usual gait speed predicts substantial reduction in mortality. A better understanding of the modifiable factors that are independently associated with improved gait speed would ensure that intervention strategies are developed based on a valid theoretical framework. Thus, we examined the independent association of change in executive functions and change in falls-related self...

Normal gait is characterised by a high level of inter-leg symmetry of gait parameters. Therefore, efforts in rehabilitation of amputees are directed at the construction of a prosthesis which provides normal leg function and allows a more symmetrical gait. Analysis of the gait of trans-tibial amputees was performed when they were ambulating at their own freely selected speed and at a faster spee...

OBJECTIVE to examine whether usual gait speed, fast gait speed or speed while walking with a cognitive or neuromuscular challenge predicts evolving cognitive decline over 3 years. DESIGN prospective study. SETTING population-based sample of community-dwelling older persons. PARTICIPANTS 660 older participants (age > or = 65 years). MEASUREMENTS usual gait speed, fastest gait speed, gait...

Methods: Inspired by the ankle biomechanics, in which the hysteresis differs based on the gait speeds, a manually damping control mechanism imbedded in the prosthesis for adjusting the ankle damping at slow and normal walking speeds. The prototype was then preliminarily tested on an able-bodied subject wearing an adaptor which simulates the amputee walking. The ankle joint kinetics and kinemati...