Compared to young adults, older adults exhibit a slower walking speed, smaller step length, shorter swing phase time and decreased range of motion in their lower extremity joints.
The study reported an increased amount of knee and plantar flexion, which indicated an increased swing phase of gait [ 34] and, thus, produced a higher number of step frequencies.
Both genders minimized loading on the affected limb by increasing swing time and reducing stance time on the affected side.
Gait analysis showed increased maximal knee flexion at swing phase and increased slope of knee flexion curve at toe off (p<.05).
In this cluster, the increased walking speed was associated to the greatest stride length, the shortest gait cycle time, and increased duration of the swing phase.
The following parameters were calculated: Knee flexion ROM during stance phase (deg), knee flexion ROM (deg) during swing phase, and stride time (s).
Moreover, toe clearance during the swing phase increased by 7% on tactile paving, and the ability to stop upon cue from the traffic light was compromised.
An increased risk was also found for swing phase, double support phase, swing time variability and stride length variability with the strongest result for stride length variability.
In stroke patients, the lengths of steps and strides are typically different between healthy and affected limbs, and the length of the gait cycle increases, the stance time increases, the duration of the swing phase decreases, the duration of the double stance increases, cadence and velocity decrease [ 11, 16, 20, 36– 40], and stride width increases [ 41].
With respect to others, this cluster was characterized by increased pelvic anterior tilt, a reduced hip extension, reduced internal rotation during stance phase, reduced hip abduction during swing phase, and increased hip flexion at initial contact and toe-off.
While the percentage of time hindlimbs were in the swing phase was significantly increased in 10 week injury animals, the videos clearly showed that this was largely due to an increase in the amount of time required for the rats to swing the hindlimb through a single step cycle and place the paw back on the treadmill.
