GAIT CHARACTERISTICS OF ELDERLY WOMEN IN OVERGROUND, ASCENT AND DESCENT WALKWAY CONDITIONS

Gait assessment is important for identification of potential faller among the elderly populations. Slope walking is associated with fall risk factor and elderly women have higher fall rate compared with elderly men. Therefore, this study investigated gait characteristics of elderly women in overground and slope walkway conditions. Thirty healthy elderly women (15 younger-elderly women and 15 older-elderly women) walked along the linear walkway including three walking conditions (overground, ascent and descent conditions). Temporal gait variables and normalized peak vertical GRF (ground reaction force) variables were derived from commercial motion analysis software. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was evaluated to compare mean differences of the three conditions and mean difference between younger and older elderly women. All gait characteristics were significantly different from the slope walking conditions ([Formula: see text]). Elderly women walked with longer loading response and mid stance phase during descent walking. Also, ascent walking induced a longer terminal stance phase. Interactions of age and walkway conditions were also significant in vertical GRF, where older-elderly women were greater than younger-elderly women in ascent walkway condition ([Formula: see text]) and in descent walkway condition ([Formula: see text]). These findings suggest that specific-walkway condition should be considered for fall prevention and clinical interventions in elderly women.

GENDER DIFFERENCE OF KNEE JOINT TORQUE DURING MAXIMAL VOLUNTARY CONTRACTION IN THE ELDERLY

Reduced muscle strength is an important fall risk factor. The fall occurs more in elderly women than in elderly men. The aim of this study is to investigate muscle strength and the ability to generate rapid torque for knee joint in elderly men and women. Twenty healthy elderly participants (10 men and 10 women) performed maximal voluntary knee extension and flexion during concentric, isometric and eccentric conditions. The peak torque and rate of torque development (RTD) was normalized by each subject’s body mass. Independent [Formula: see text]-tests were employed in the comparison of elderly women with elderly men. Elderly women exhibited weaker isometric flexion and eccentric extension strength compared to elderly men ([Formula: see text]). Although there was no significant gender difference in isometric extension peak torque, RTD of elderly women was slower than it of elderly men ([Formula: see text]). In contrast, no significant gender differences were observed in concentric contraction condition ([Formula: see text]). These results indicate that the deteriorated RTD as well as muscle strength per body mass may be associated with a higher frequency of falls in elderly women than in elderly men. This study suggests that training of specific-contraction type should be considered for fall prevention in elderly women.