Decline in Gait Performance Detected by an Electronic Walkway System in 907 Older Adults of the Population-Based KORA-Age Study

Background: Gait changes at older ages are a strong predictor of
adecline in lower extremity functions. However, large
population-basedstudies assessing gait parameters in various gait
tasks are lacking.Objective: We investigated the relationship of
age, the use of mobilityaids and being fitted with an
endoprosthesis with selected gaitparameters, assessed in different
walking tasks. Methods: In thepopulation-based KORA-Age study, data
from 907 men and women aged 65-91years were obtained using the
validated electronic walkway systemGAITRite, which quantifies
spatiotemporal gait parameters in themeasurement range of a 488 x
61 cm walkway mat. Participants completedthree walking tasks at
different speeds (normal, slow and fast) and afourth walking task
at normal speed with the additional task of countingbackwards
(dual-task walking). Additionally, the impact ofendoprostheses (hip
or knee) and mobility aids was assessed.