banner.jpg Age-Related Changes in the Walking Motion of Japanese Men: basic Analysis of Gait Irma Nur Afiah1,3, Hiroki Nakashima1 and Satoshi Muraki2 1Graduate School of Design, Kyushu University, Fukoka, Japan. 2Faculty of Design, Kyushu University, Fukoka, Japan. 3Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia. ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effect of aging on gait parameters in two different walking speed conditions, and detected the parameters and walking speed conditions that reflect walking motion upon aging in Japanese men. Methods: Forty-eight Japanese men were divided into 3 groups of 16 participants each: (1) younger men (mean age, 22.0 ± 0.68 years), (2) older men (age, 65 to 74.9 years; mean age, 68.6 ± 2.47 years), and (3) very old men (age, ≥75 years; mean age, 77.0 ± 1.71 years). Twenty-seven basic gait and gait cycle parameters were measured. Results and Discussion: Parameters that reflect walking motion upon aging are walking speed, cadence, time of swing phase, time of one gait cycle, percentage of swing phase, and percentage of stance phase. Both self-selected and fast walking speed conditions reflect walking motion upon aging.

Keywords: Aging, Walking motion, Gait characteristic, Japanese elderly.

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