Anthropometric, functional and foot trajectory determinants of stride length in self-reliant community-dwelling elderly persons in Talca, Chile

Abstract Objective: To analyze anthropometric, muscle performance and foot trajectory determinants of stride length (SL) during walking at a comfortable pace among self-reliant community-dwelling elderly persons in Talca, Chile. Method: A total of 63 self-reliant elderly persons participated in this observational and cross-sectional study. They were characterized by the anthropometric measures of mass, height and body mass index. Dorsiflexor muscle strength performance (DF-MS) and rate of force development were quantified. Finally, the elderly persons were asked to walk comfortably around a 40 meter elliptical circuit, using determined SL and maximum foot clearance (MaxFC) and minimum foot clearance (MFC) trajectory parameters. The SL determinants were evaluated by calculating the coefficient of determination (r2) considering a level of significance of p≤0.05. Results: The anthropometric variables demonstrated significant correlations (r>0.41) with the explanation of SL remaining incipient (r2<0.20). Muscle performance, meanwhile, was significantly correlated (r>0.52), with DF-MS standing out (r2=0.342). MaxFC represented a significant explanation for the data (r2=0.396), while the low correlation of MFC was not significant (r=0.24, r2=0.058). Conclusion: MaxFC and DF-MS are determinants of SL in self-reliant elderly Chileans. It is proposed that gait parameters could be normalized in accordance with trajectory and muscular performance.

摘要 研究目的：分析智利塔尔卡市社区自理老年人群在舒适步行状态下，步长（stride length, SL）的人体测量学、肌肉性能及足部运动轨迹影响因素。研究方法：共计63名社区自理老年人参与此项观察性横断面研究。研究人员采集了受试者的体重、身高与体质指数（Body Mass Index, BMI）等人体测量指标，量化其背屈肌肌力表现（Dorsiflexor muscle strength performance, DF-MS）与肌力发展速率。随后要求受试者在40米椭圆形步道上以舒适步态行走，记录步长、最大足部离地间隙（maximum foot clearance, MaxFC）与最小足部离地间隙（minimum foot clearance, MFC）等轨迹参数。以p≤0.05为显著性检验水准，通过决定系数（coefficient of determination, r²）分析步长的影响因素。研究结果：人体测量变量与步长的解释度较低（r²<0.20），但存在显著相关性（r>0.41）。与此同时，肌肉性能指标与步长呈现显著相关性（r>0.52），其中背屈肌肌力表现最为突出（r²=0.342）。最大足部离地间隙对步长具有显著解释能力（r²=0.396），而最小足部离地间隙的相关性较低且无统计学意义（r=0.24, r²=0.058）。研究结论：最大足部离地间隙与背屈肌肌力是智利社区自理老年人群步长的影响因素。本研究提出，可依据足部运动轨迹与肌肉性能指标对步态参数进行标准化调整。