Article

OBJECTIVE: To identify sensorimotor and psychosocial factors independently
associated with an inability to perform adaptive walking tasks in older adults.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study. SETTING: Population-based older cohort.
PARTICIPANTS: Community-living elderly (N=720; age >/=65y) who could walk 7m at
self-selected normal speed. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME :
Walking performance was assessed in 4 walking tests : fast walking, obstacle
crossing, narrow-based walking, and walking while talking. Possible correlates of
the inability to perform the walking test included knee extensor strength, lower
limb coordination, Cumulative Somatosensory Impairment Index (CSII), visual
acuity and contrast sensitivity, cognition, depression, personal mastery, social
support, and years of education. RESULTS: The results of binary logistic
regression analyses, adjusted for demographics and self-selected normal speed,
demonstrated that poor knee extensor strength was associated with an inability to
perform tasks demanding an increase in walking speed (fast walking and obstacle
crossing). Both poor lower limb coordination and higher CSII were significantly
associated with failure in tests that demanded precise control over foot
placement (obstacle crossing and narrow-based walking). Higher CSII was
associated with failure in all tests except in the walking while talking. In
contrast, poor cognition was associated with an inability to perform walking
while talking. Poor personal mastery was the only variable that was associated
with failure in all walking tests. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated a
systematic and coherent pattern in these associations and indicated possible
sensorimotor and psychological parameters that should be specifically
investigated and should be intervened if a patient reports a difficulty/inability
in walking in certain situations.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS