Sex and Age-Specific Associations between Gait Efficiency and Daily Activity

Tuesday, September 23, 2014 — Poster Session III
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	FAES Academic Center	NIA	EPIG-5

Authors

• DC Kauffman
• E Simonsick
• SA Studenski

Abstract

Energetic cost of moving may affect level of physical activity. However, relationships between gait efficiency and activity in men and women and at different ages have not been investigated. Mechanical work expenditure (MWE) (regional energy cost per unit of weight and distance) at the hip, knee, and ankle, during gait was calculated from the kinematics and kinetics of a 3D gait analysis system in 397 participants (age 60-93) without walking limitation from the BLSA. An Actiheart accelerometer was worn for a week in the home environment to quantify daily activity. Participants were stratified by age and sex. In males and females ages 60-69, significant associations at the hips and ankles revealed that the highest activity group had the highest MWE. However, in adults 80 and over, the lowest activity group had the highest MWE. After adjusting MWE for body weight in adults 60-69, body weight was still a significant contributor to MWE (F=6.81, p=.011) while in adults 80+ body weight was not a significant contributor (F=1.15, p=.296). While body weight is more responsible for higher MWE than lower activity in young-old adults, MWE is more related to other factors such as loss of gait efficiency in old-old adults.

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