[Purpose] Young and elderly adults performed walking and standing-walking (ST) tasks, and the number of steps taken before achieving normal gait and the characteristics of transitional gait were investigated.[Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 19 elderly females and 10 healthy young females.Step length and gait speed were measured at the maximum gait in both tasks, and in the ST task, the anterior transfer speed of the center of gravity (COG) and motor function were also compared. [Results] In the walking task there were no differences, but in the ST task the elderly subjects took one more step to establish normal gait. The anterior transfer speed of COG and motor function of the elderly subjects in the ST task were significantly lower than those of the young subjects.[Conclusion] A difference was found in the number of steps needed to achieve normal gait in the ST task. We consider decrease in the anterior transfer speed of COG was an influencing factor, and that a possible cause is decrease of motor function due to aging.

[Purpose] To clarify factors associated with falls in the elderly who are regarded as individuals with a lower risk of falls (low-risk elderly) based on their TUG test results, and consider effective fall prevention approaches.[Subjects and Methods] Twenty-nine elderly females with a TUG time of 13.5 seconds or shorter were divided into fall and non-fall groups based on the history of falls to compare the following items between them: the numbers of steps needed to walk normally during walk and sit-to-walk tasks; velocity of a forward shift in the center of gravity when standing during the sit-to-walk task; motor functions; and the level of fear of falling.[Results] Compared with the non-fall group (19), the fall group (10) needed 1 more step to walk normally during the sit-to-walk task, and their velocity of a forward shift in the center of gravity was significantly lower. Their markedly higher level of fear of falling was also noted. [Conclusion] A higher level of fear of falling was the most important factor associated with falls in the low-risk elderly with a history of falls, suggesting the necessity of improving their movement patterns as a fall prevention approach. Key words: the elderly with a lower risk of falls, factors associated with falls, fall prevention