Spatio-Temporal Gait Parameters of Hospitalized Older Patients: Comparison of Fallers and Non-Fallers

Emilie Bourgarel (), Clémence Risser, Frederic Blanc, Thomas Vogel, Georges Kaltenbach, Maxence Meyer and Elise Schmitt
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Emilie Bourgarel: Department of Geriatrics, La Robertsau Geriatric Hospital, University Hospital of Strasbourg, 83 Rue Himmerich, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Clémence Risser: Department of Public Health, Methods in Clinical Research, University Hospitals of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Frederic Blanc: Department of Geriatrics, La Robertsau Geriatric Hospital, University Hospital of Strasbourg, 83 Rue Himmerich, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Thomas Vogel: Department of Geriatrics, La Robertsau Geriatric Hospital, University Hospital of Strasbourg, 83 Rue Himmerich, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Georges Kaltenbach: Department of Geriatrics, La Robertsau Geriatric Hospital, University Hospital of Strasbourg, 83 Rue Himmerich, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Maxence Meyer: Department of Geriatrics, La Robertsau Geriatric Hospital, University Hospital of Strasbourg, 83 Rue Himmerich, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Elise Schmitt: Department of Geriatrics, La Robertsau Geriatric Hospital, University Hospital of Strasbourg, 83 Rue Himmerich, 67000 Strasbourg, France

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-10

Abstract: Gait disorders are predisposing factors for falls. They are accessible to rehabilitation and can be analyzed using tools that collect spatio-temporal parameters of walking, such as the GAITRite ® mat. The objective of this retrospective study was to find differences between the spatio-temporal parameters in patients who had fallen compared to patients who did not fall in a population of older patients hospitalized in acute geriatrics department. Patients over 75 years were included. For each patient, spatio-temporal parameters were collected using the GAITRite ® mat. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had a history of fall. The spatio-temporal parameters were compared between the two groups and in relation to the general population. Sixty-seven patients, with an average age of 85.9 ± 6 years, were included. The patients had comorbidities, cognitive impairment and were polymedicated. The mean walking speed was 51.4 cm/s in non-fallers group and 47.3 cm/s in fallers group ( p = 0.539), indicating pathological walking in comparison with the general population of the same age (average 100 cm/s). No association was found between the spatio-temporal parameters and fall, probably linked to many confounding factors such as the pathogenicity of walking of our patients and their comorbidities.

Keywords: gait disorders; fall; older people (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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