Wearable-Sensor-Instrumented Assessment of Prolonged Walking Identifies Performance Deficits in Older Adults With Normal Clinical Presentation.
Julie Rekant, Bailey Rammling, Jeffrey Beans and 3 others
PMID 42679067WHAT IT FOUND
Across the whole group, the test did not show a change in walking quality from the first to last minute.
But 7 of 42 older adults looked normal early and abnormal late, a deficit missed by standard tests.
Key findings
01For the whole group, no statistically significant difference was found in gait measures between the first and last minute of the walk test.
02When compared with age and sex matched norms, 7 of 42 participants had normal gait in the first minute and abnormal gait in the last minute.
03Participants with late gait deterioration were not distinguishable from those who stayed normal by age, physical functioning, or muscle quality.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 42 participants, and only 7 were in the late deterioration group, so the finding is unstable. The distance walked was missing for 5 participants because of staff errors. The analysis used baseline data from a trial whose sample size was planned for the larger intervention, not for this question. The authors say the study was likely underpowered to detect group level gait change. The researchers did not adjust for multiple comparisons. This was a cross-sectional baseline analysis, so it did not show whether late gait deterioration predicts future falls or disability.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the 17% deterioration rate as proof that this sensor predicts falls or that early intervention works. The whole group showed no statistically significant gait change from first to last minute, the deterioration group had only 7 participants, and the analysis had no follow-up outcomes.