Variations in spatiotemporal parameters in young and older women while walking at different speeds

The relationship between spatial-temporal parameters walking have been widely described in literature this is still unclear, particularly when changes walking speed occurred. This study aims to investigate relationship in healthy women of different ages, walking at different speeds. Two groups of healthy (25 young and 22 elderly) walked at “comfortable” “fast” speeds. Stride length and frequency, plus speed data were recorded. Their relationship was using bivariate regression analysis and Pearson’s . Both groups showed that increasing velocity, significantly stride length and frequency, comfortably. Nevertheless, differences between were highlighted during fast walking. The elderly a similar walking pattern though reducing the coefficient between the parameters. While younger shows significant correlation only between frequency and velocity. Concerning stride length frequency relationship, both groups exhibit different between the observed walking speeds. In , these results suggest that younger and older increase walking speed using a pattern only whilst effort is perceived as comfortable. Identifying this point in the motor patterns used could help to early possible frailties in older people as well as the residual state of their functional capacities.