Back to Search Start Over

Effect of uphill and downhill walking on walking performance in geriatric patients using a wheeled walker

Effect of uphill and downhill walking on walking performance in geriatric patients using a wheeled walker

Authors :
Wolfgang Schlicht
Syn Schmitt
Ulrich Lindemann
Clemens Becker
Michael Weyrich
Michael Schwenk
Source :
Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie. 50:483-487
Publication Year :
2016
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2016.

Abstract

Wheeled walkers are recommended to improve walking performance in older persons and to encourage and assist participation in daily life. Nevertheless, using a wheeled walker can cause serious problems in the natural environment. This study aimed to compare uphill and downhill walking with walking level in geriatric patients using a wheeled walker. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of using a wheeled walker with respect to dual tasking when walking level. A total of 20 geriatric patients (median age 84.5 years) walked 10 m at their habitual pace along a level surface, uphill and downhill, with and without a standard wheeled walker. Gait speed, stride length and cadence were assessed by wearable sensors and the walk ratio was calculated. When using a wheeled walker while walking level the walk ratio improved (0.58 m/[steps/min] versus 0.57 m/[steps/min], p = 0.023) but gait speed decreased (1.07 m/s versus 1.12 m/s, p = 0.020) when compared to not using a wheeled walker. With respect to the walk ratio, uphill and downhill walking with a wheeled walker decreased walking performance when compared to level walking (0.54 m/[steps/min] versus 0.58 m/[steps/min], p = 0.023 and 0.55 m/[steps/min] versus 0.58 m/[steps/min], p = 0.001, respectively). At the same time, gait speed decreased (0.079 m/s versus 1.07 m/s, p < 0.0001) or was unaffected. The use of a wheeled walker improved the quality of level walking but the performance of uphill and downhill walking was worse compared to walking level when using a wheeled walker.

Details

ISSN :
14351269 and 09486704
Volume :
50
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....9ba9ac5054e1d85bdc0025c946d28bd3
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-016-1156-4