Anterior–Posterior Ground Reaction Forces During Gait in Children and Elderly Women

This study aimed to compare the anterior–posterior ground reaction forces (GRF) between children and older women during gait. Twenty-five girls (6.39 ± 1.88 years) and thirty-three elderly women (70.48 ± 6.66 years) took part in this study. Participants were asked to walk along a 6.0 m walkway with 8 force platforms. The GRF was sampled at 1000 Hz and the data recorded were from both lower limbs. The analysis focused on anterior–posterior GRF and the variables related to the braking and propulsion phase of walking. Braking peak, propulsive peak, time for braking peak, and time for propulsive peak are significantly greater for children than for elderly women (p < 0.001). The differences observed in the gait anterior–posterior GRF between children and elderly women are evidence of age-related effects on gait variables, and that this evidence can be used for exercise interventions aiming to improve gait in children and older women.