Temporal gait characteristics in the Czech adult population

Abstract

A descriptive comparative research study of gait of the Czech population has been carried out. Its aim was to assess temporal characteristics of a stance in the Czech population in relation to the BMI and age. To obtain basic data the Pedar Mobile System (Novel GER) with capacitative insoles was used. 170 men and women aged 18-60 divided by gender and age into three natural biological groups (18-30, 31-45, 46-60 years of age) were measured (Kovář 1997, Riegrová 1998, Pavlík 2007). Basic temporal characteristics of a stance were selected focusing on a comparison of the duration of the initial and terminal double limb stances and the single limb stance between the individual groups. These variables were assessed in relation to age and the BMI using ANOVA, Tukey HSD test and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient to assess the results. The statistical significance level was set at α = 0.05. There were no significant differences found in the main observed variables, i.e. the initial and terminal double limb stances and the single limb stance in any age groups, neither in women or men in terms of age and BMI. The only difference detected was in the swing time in both the younger groups and the oldest group of participants in cases where they were not divided by gender. The swing time got significantly reduced in the oldest age category. The moderate correlation coefficient was found between the selected characteristics of a stance and the BMI or age for all the groups (r=0,3 – 0,5). This means that neither the BMI nor age significantly affect the initial and terminal double limb stance time and the single limb stance time in the observed research participants aged 60 and below.