Comparison of Changed Gait Pattern between Healthy Young Adults and the Elderly during Level and Uneven Inclined Walking

The purpose of this study was to compare the change in gait pattern of young adults and the elderly on the level and uneven inclined walkway. Fourteen healthy young adults (10 males, 4 females) and Twenty the elderly (13 males, 7 females) were participated in the experiment. The experiment was consisted of the walking in the level and uneven inclined walkway, and the motion data were collected and analyzed by using the three-dimensional motion analysis system during 2 kinds of walking conditions. The gait speed, ratio of gait phase (stance & swing), hip joint angle, knee joint angle, ankle joint angle and the trajectory of center of mass (COM) were used as variables for analysis. As a result, the gait change of the elderly group for uneven inclined walkway showed a difference from young adult group in the pattern of lower limb joint angle and the medio-lateral directional movement of COM. These changes by inclined and surface may affect gait pattern of young subjects as well as the elderly subjects. However, it is believed that the elderly were adapted to the uneven inclined walkway through different aspects from young adults and that may cause unstable movement pattern for the elderly gait. For the further analysis on change in gait pattern of the elderly, it is necessary to conduct a study with head movement, dispersion of attention and at the walkway under various conditions.