Challenging the motor control of walking: Gait variability during slower and faster pace walking conditions in younger and older adults

Background: Gait variability is a measure of motor control of gait. Little is known about age-related changes in the motor control of gait (gait variability) during challenging walking conditions, such as slower and faster pace walking. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of challenging walking conditions (slower and faster speeds) on gait variability in younger and older adults. Design: This study was a cross-sectional, observational design. Methods: Forty younger (mean age = 26.6 +/- 6.0 years) and 111 community-dwelling older adults (mean age = 77.3 +/- 6.0 years), independent in ambulation, were studied. Gait characteristics were collected using a computerized walkway (GaitMat II (TM)). Step length, step width, step time, swing time, stance time and double support time variability were derived as the standard deviation of all steps across the 4 passes. Results: Compared to younger, older adults had a significant change in their gait variability from usual to slower in step width (-0.006 +/- 0.003), step time (0.028 +/- 0.006), swing time (0.023 +/- 0.004), stance time (0.042 +/- 0.008), and double support time (0.024 +/- 0.005). Changes in gait variability from usual to faster were not significantly different between younger and older adults. Limitation: Gait variability was examined during self-selected over-ground walking, where subjects directed to walk slower, usual and faster. Conclusions: Walking slowly is more challenging to the motor control of gait and may be more sensitive to age-related declines in gait than usual and faster speed walks. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.