Gait asymmetry assessment for older adults by measuring circular gait speed

Abstract

[Aim]The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the circular gait test as a method for detecting side‐to‐side straight‐line gait asymmetry in older adults. [Methods] A total of 25 healthy older adults and 20 healthy young adults participated in this study. Walking speeds, right‐ and left‐leg step lengths, and stance durations were measured during straight‐line walking using a triaxial accelerometer (G‐walk from Bertec Japan). Step length and stance duration laterality were calculated using the side‐to‐side difference (|Left – Right|) and asymmetry index (|Left − Right|

mean right and left values × 100). For circular gait, the time required to walk twice around a 1‐m diameter circle for right and left rotations was measured, and the laterality was calculated using the same formula as that described for the straight‐line gait. [Results] The results showed no differences in straight‐line step length or stance duration laterality between groups. However, circular gait asymmetry was significantly higher for older participants. A significant correlation was confirmed between circular gait time and straight‐line step length for older adults (r = 0.404). [Conclusions] The present study suggested that the circular gait test had better potential to detect age‐related changes in gait laterality than straight‐line gait step length or stance duration, and it might work as a simple assessment method for detecting laterality in straight‐line walking.