Journal article
Independent domains of gait in older adults and associated motor and nonmotor attributes: Validation of a factor analysis approach
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, Vol.68(7), pp.820-827
2013
Abstract
Background
Gait is an important predictor of survival in older adults. Gait characteristics help to identify markers of incipient pathology, inform diagnostic algorithms and disease progression, and measure efficacy of interventions. However, there is no clear framework to guide selection of gait characteristics. This study developed and validated a model of gait in older adults based on a strong theoretical paradigm.
Methods
One hundred and eighty-nine older adults with a mean (SD) age of 69.5 (7.6) years were assessed for 16 spatiotemporal gait variables using a 7-m instrumented walkway (GAITRite) while walking for 2 minutes. Principal components analysis and factor analysis “varimax” procedure were used to derive a model that was validated using a multimethod approach: replication of previous work; association of gait domains with motor, cognitive, and behavioral attributes; and discriminatory properties of gait domains using age as a criterion.
Results
Five factors emerged from the principal components analysis: pace (22.5%), rhythm (19.3%), variability (15.1%), asymmetry (14.5%), and postural control (8.0%), explaining 79.5% of gait variance in total. Age, executive function, power of attention, balance self-efficacy, and physical fatigue were independently and selectively associated with 4 gait domains, explaining up to 40.1% of total variance. Median age discriminated pace, variability, and postural control domains.
Conclusions
This study supports a 5-factor model of gait in older adults with domains that preferentially select for motor, cognitive, and behavioral attributes. Future research is required to validate the model. If successful, it will facilitate hypothesis-driven research to explain underlying gait mechanisms, identify contributory features to gait disturbance, and examine the effect of intervention.
Details
- Title
- Independent domains of gait in older adults and associated motor and nonmotor attributes: Validation of a factor analysis approach
- Authors/Creators
- S. Lord (Author/Creator)B. Galna (Author/Creator)J. Verghese (Author/Creator)S. Coleman (Author/Creator)D. Burn (Author/Creator)L. Rochester (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, Vol.68(7), pp.820-827
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America
- Identifiers
- 991005545136107891
- Copyright
- © The Author 2012
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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Source: InCites
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.82 Gait & Posture
- 1.82.263 Gait and Balance
- Web Of Science research areas
- Geriatrics & Gerontology
- Gerontology
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine