Age-Related Differences in Gait Among Community-Dwelling Senior Adults in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study Using a Markerless Motion Analysis System

Background and aim The global demographic shift increases the urgency of detecting mobility decline in senior adults, as reduced gait function is a key risk factor for falls and loss of independence. Gait assesments made using markerless motion analysis offers a scalable and low-burden alternative to laboratory-based system. This study examined age-related differences in gait parameters using a novel markerless system in a large cohort of community-dwelling senior adults in Japan. Methods A cross-sectional sample of 691 community-dwelling adults aged 69–89 years from the Bunkyo Health Study was analysed. Gait speed, stride length, cadence, toe clearance and lower-limb joints range of motion (ROM) were extracted from the leading and trailing leg over 3.4 gait cycles (on average) at comfortable self-selected speed. Associations between age and gait parameters were examined using multiple linear regression adjusted for sex, height, fall history and cognitive function. Results Age was associated with lower gait speed (-0.014 m/s per year), shorter stride length (-0.012 m per year), reduced toe clearance (–0.001 m per year) and reduced hip (-0.37° per year) and knee ROM (-0.24° per year). Conclusions Using markerless motion analysis, this study revealed combined age-related decline in spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters in a large sample of community-dwelling senior adults.