Swing Phase Differences in Ankle Joint Angles of Young and Elderly Subjects

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the swing phase differences in ankle joint angles of young and elderly subjects. [Subjects] The subjects were 10 young persons and 14 elderly persons (no-fall group, n=10; falls group, n=4). [Method] Using a video camera we recorded the lower leg during walking and determined the maximum ankle joint angle using Dartfish software. [Results] In the young persons' group we found differences between the early and middle swing phases, and between the early and late swing phases. In the no-fall group, we found differences between the early and middle swing phases, and between the middle and late swing phases. No differences were found among the phases in the falls group. In the early swing phase, differences were found between the young and no-fall groups, and between the young and falls groups. In the middle swing phase, differences were found between the young and no-fall groups, and between the young and falls groups. In the late swing phase, no differences were found among the groups. [Conclusion] The results reveal the elderly group had reduced ankle dorsiand plantar-flexion.

Preliminary gait analysis of frail versus older adults

“…In 2013, Hak et al conducted an infrared camera analysis of the margin of stability (MoS) in nine healthy young adults and reported that slow walking does not necessarily lead to walking stability and that increasing walking speed increases backward MoS and reduces the risk of falling 14 ) . A study using a video camera showed that ankle joint dorsiflexion did not change considerably during the swing phase in those who had experienced a fall 15 ) . This is because the difference between the maximum plantar flexion angle immediately after toe-off and the ankle joint angle at the end of the swing phase reduced due to a limited range of ankle joint motion or weakness of the plantar flexor muscles.…”