Anthropometric, functional and foot trajectory determinants of stride length in self-reliant community-dwelling elderly persons in Talca, Chile

Abstract

Objective:

To analyze anthropometric, muscle performance and foot trajectory determinants of stride length (SL) during walking at a comfortable pace among self-reliant community-dwelling elderly persons in Talca, Chile.

Method:

A total of 63 self-reliant elderly persons participated in this observational and cross-sectional study. They were characterized by the anthropometric measures of mass, height and body mass index. Dorsiflexor muscle strength performance (DF-MS) and rate of force development were quantified. Finally, the elderly persons were asked to walk comfortably around a 40 meter elliptical circuit, using determined SL and maximum foot clearance (MaxFC) and minimum foot clearance (MFC) trajectory parameters. The SL determinants were evaluated by calculating the coefficient of determination (r²⁾ considering a level of significance of p≤0.05.

Results:

The anthropometric variables demonstrated significant correlations (r>0.41) with the explanation of SL remaining incipient (r²<0.20). Muscle performance, meanwhile, was significantly correlated (r>0.52), with DF-MS standing out (r²=0.342). MaxFC represented a significant explanation for the data (r²=0.396), while the low correlation of MFC was not significant (r=0.24, r²=0.058).

Conclusion:

MaxFC and DF-MS are determinants of SL in self-reliant elderly Chileans. It is proposed that gait parameters could be normalized in accordance with trajectory and muscular performance.

Key words:
Elderly; Walking; Anthropometry; Muscle Strength; Biomechanical Phenomena