Age- and sex-specific analysis of gait parameters in a wide age-ranged population in Korea: a cross-sectional study

The aim of this study is to compare differences in gait parameters such as gait speed, step length, step length-to-height ratio (SLR), and locomotor rehabilitation index (LRI) between sexes by age groups. In total, 354 subjects (aged 15-86 years) were divided into six groups by their age such as '<= 29,' '30-39,' '40-49,' '50-59,' '60-69,' and '>= 70' to compare the difference in gait parameters between sexes over the life span. Gait parameters were measured using a Global Positioning System (GPS) based smart shoes system including insole-type pressure sensor. According to the analysis, there were significant interaction effects in gait speed, SLR, and LRI between sexes and the age groups (all p < .05). There were significant differences among the age groups in gait speed (p < .001), step length (p < .001), SLR (p < .01), and LRI (p < .001) in women, and there was a significant difference among the age groups in gait speed (p < .001) and LRI (p < .001) in men. Especially, there was a significant difference in gait speed (p < .01) and LRI (p < .05) between '50-59' and '60-69' age groups in women. Also, body mass index (BMI) was negatively associated with all gait parameters in women, while there were no significant correlations between BMI and gait parameters in men. Taken together, the patterns of change in gait speed may be different between sexes over the life span. In particular, the gait speed may significantly decrease as women get old from middle age to old age, and obesity can be negatively associated with gait parameters in women.