Impact of walking states, self-reported daily walking amount and age on the gait of older adults measured with a smart-phone app: a pilot study

Background Smartphones provide a cost-effective avenue for gait assessment among older adults in the community. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of walking state, self-reported daily walking amount, and age on gait quality, using a smartphone application. Methods One hundred older adult individuals from North China, aged 73.0 +/- 7.7 years, voluntarily participated in this study. They performed three walking tests: normal walking, fast walking, and visually impaired walking. Three-dimensional acceleration data for gait were obtained using the smartphone app Pocket Gait. This study used multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to explore the effects of the walking state, self-reported daily walking amount, and age on the step frequency, root mean square (RMS) acceleration, step time variability, regularity, and symmetry. Results The walking state, self-reported daily walking amount, and age had statistically significant effects on gait quality. Compared with normal walking, the step frequency, RMS acceleration, variability, and regularity were greater in the fast-walking state, and simulated visually impaired walking did not significantly affect gait quality. Relatively older individuals had a significant decline in gait quality compared to (relatively) younger older adult individuals. Compared with older adults who walked less than 1 km a day, older adults who walked more had better gait quality. Conclusions The walking state, self-reported daily walking amount, and age have a significant effect on the gait quality of older adults. Walking with pigmented sunglasses can be used as a training intervention to improve gait performance. Older adult people who walk less than 1 km/day have worse gait quality compared with their counterparts.

Automated summary

This study explored the impact of walking state, self-reported daily walking amount, and age on gait quality among older adults using a smartphone application. The results showed that gait quality was better during fast walking compared to normal walking, and simulated visually impaired walking had no significant effect on gait quality. Older individuals had a decline in gait quality compared to relatively younger older adults, and older adults who walked more than 1 km a day had better gait quality.