Evaluation of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Two Groups,  Healthy and Injury-Prone Elderly Individuals: A quasi-experimental study

Hadian, Elham; Mokhtarian, Ali; Nasri, Mehdi; Seifzadeh, َAlireza; Shamekohan, Parastoo

doi:10.22084/rsr.2025.30048.1755

Evaluation of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Two Groups, Healthy and Injury-Prone Elderly Individuals: A quasi-experimental study

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Elham Hadian ¹

Ali Mokhtarian ²

Mehdi Nasri ³

َAlireza Seifzadeh ¹

Parastoo Shamekohan ⁴

¹ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kho.C.,, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Iran.

² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kho.C.,, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Iran.

³ Department of Electrical Engineering, Kho.C,, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Iran

⁴ Department of Physical Education and Sport Science,, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

10.22084/rsr.2025.30048.1755

Abstract

Background and Aim: Injuries during walking are a significant challenge that affects the health and lifestyle of the elderly population. This study aimed to investigate and compare the biomechanical parameters of gait in healthy and injury-prone elderly individuals.
Methods: First, gait analysis was conducted to examine kinematic data from 24 elderly participants, divided into two groups: healthy and injury-prone. Reflective markers were attached to the lower limbs, and participants were asked to walk on a treadmill at their normal walking speed. Using a motion capture camera, marker coordinates were recorded and presented as a function of time. Subsequently, both static and dynamic data of the participants were obtained through data processing.
Results: The results showed that step length during walking in injury-prone elderly individuals was approximately 12% shorter than that of the healthy group, indicating a statistically significant difference. Walking speed was also higher in the healthy group compared to the injury-prone group (P=0.048). Gait symmetry was greater in the healthy group as well, though the difference was marginally significant (P=0.069).
Conclusion: This study demonstrated notable differences in the spatiotemporal gait factors between healthy and injury-prone elderly individuals. Analyzing and comparing these factors highlights the impact of injury risk on gait patterns in the elderly population. These findings carry important implications for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of injuries in the aging community.

Keywords

Spatial-Temporal Factors

Gait

Older Adult

Injury-prone

Subjects