<p>Gait Speed as a Screening Tool for Foot Pain and the Risk of Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Women: A Cross-Sectional Study</p>

Abstract

Purpose: The main purpose of the study was to establish a gait speed cutoff value to predict foot pain and the risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, one-hundred and twenty White older women speaking Croatian (mean ± SD age 71.02 ± 6.78 years, height 161.77 ± 6.23 cm, weight 70.29 ± 12.97 kg, body mass index 26.79 ± 4.42 kg/m 2) were recruited. The prevalence of foot pain was assessed by a single-item question and the risk of falls by the Downtown Fall Risk Index with a proposed cutoff value of "low risk" (<3 points) vs "high risk" (≥3 points) of falls. Self-selected gait speed (the independent variable) was estimated with a pressure platform (Zebris Company, Munich, Germany). Results: Mean gait speed was 0.95 m/s. Of the total sample, 53.30% and 33.30% reported foot pain and had higher risk of falls. For foot pain and the risk of falls, gait speed cutoff values were 0.88 m/s and 0.85 m/s (area under the curve = 0.80 and 0.83, standard error = 0.043 and 0.043, p < 0.001). Sensitivity for foot pain and the risk of falls was 66.20% and 85.90% and specificity was 84.80% and 69.00%. Slower gait speed was associated with higher prevalence of foot pain (OR = 10.92, 95% CI 4.28 to 27.89, p < 0.001) and higher risk of falls (OR = 13.59, 95% CI 5.45 to 33.87, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Proposed gait speed values of 0.88 m/s and 0.85 m/s may be used in clinical settings to predict foot pain and the risk of falls among community-dwelling older women.

Normative Data for Gait Speed and Height Norm Speed in ≥ 60-Year-Old Men and Women

“… 13 , 16 Another study conducted among Japanese older adults using a pressure platform for assessing reference data of gait parameters showed, that median gait speed was 1.26 (0.24) m/s, 16 which is equal to our findings. Most recently, cut-off values of 0.88 m/s and 0.85 m/s have been proposed in predicting foot pain and the risk of falls in community-dwelling older women, 20 pointing out that the proposed sex- and age-reference data for gait speed may serve as a potential screening tool in targeting those individuals with slower gait speed for special interventions that improve and enhance gait biomechanics.…”

“…The procedure of previously published papers related to this topic was followed. 20 In brief, the walkway was 10.5 m in length (1.5 m platform and 4.5 m custom-designed dense material before and after the platform). The protocol consisted of a set of instructions to participants to walk at a preferred speed and to look straightforward across the platform being barefoot and without targeting the platform.…”

Analysis of the Stability of the Body in a Standing Position When Shooting at a Stationary Target―A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The Zebris platform for assessing the ground force reaction is a perfect tool for verifying the stability of the body in both static and dynamic tests [ 18 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 ]. Research on postural stability disorders using the Zebris platform is widely used in the clinical assessment of patients at risk of falling [ 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 ].…”

The Accuracy and Precision of Gait Spatio-Temporal Parameters Extracted from an Instrumented Sock during Treadmill and Overground Walking in Healthy Subjects and Patients with a Foot Impairment Secondary to Psoriatic Arthritis

“…The main spatio-temporal parameters including stance, swing, and stride duration, also named gait cycle duration (GCD), cadence (CAD), stride length (SL), and gait speed (GS) are important clinical outcomes as they allow the functional status to be described and adverse health outcomes to be predicted [ 1 ]. For instance, a reduced GS is associated with functional independence [ 2 ] and is used as a screening tool for foot pain [ 3 ]. SL is also considered as an indicator of foot pain [ 4 ] and the severity of rheumatological and musculoskeletal disorders (associated with a reduction in the ankle, knee, or hip range of motion) such as osteoarthritis [ 5 ].…”