Reduced vestibular function is associated with longer, slower steps in healthy adults during normal speed walking.
E Anson, K Pineault, W Bair and 2 others
PMID 30576978WHAT IT FOUND
Lower horizontal semicircular canal function was associated with longer stride, slower cadence, and longer stance time in healthy older adults walking at usual speed.
Otolith organ tests showed no associations.
Key findings
01Lower horizontal semicircular canal VOR gain was associated with longer stride length and slower cadence after adjustment for age, height, gender, and either cadence or stride length.
02Lower horizontal semicircular canal VOR gain was associated with longer stance time; swing time also increased, but only stance time remained significant.
03No significant relationships were found between cVEMP or oVEMP otolith function and spatial or temporal gait parameters.
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that vestibular loss caused the gait differences. Vestibular function tests and gait testing were performed at different times, so the results do not represent dynamic vestibular modulation during walking. Only horizontal semicircular canal VOR gain was reported, and vertical semicircular canal testing was not performed. Only about 10% of participants had absent otolith function, which may have made it hard to detect an association. The sample was healthy community-dwelling older adults, so it may not apply to people with more profound vestibular loss or greater balance and gait problems. Vision and pain when walking were not included, and these could influence gait. Not all participants completed all vestibular tests, so the horizontal semicircular canal analysis used 90 participants while the otolith analyses used 113 participants.
Declared interests
The supplied text does not include a conflict-of-interest declaration. The article is marked as supported by N.I.H. extramural research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that vestibular loss causes these gait changes or that vestibular training will change them. The study was cross-sectional, tested vestibular function and gait at separate times, and the authors state the analyses do not prove a causal relationship.