Validity of Linear and Nonlinear Measures of Gait Variability to Characterize Aging Gait with a Single Lower Back Accelerometer
The attractor complexity index (ACI) is a recently developed gait analysis tool based on nonlinear dynamics. This study assesses ACI’s sensitivity to attentional demands in gait control and its potential for characterizing age-related changes in gait patterns. Furthermore, we compare ACI with classi...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| author | Sophia Piergiovanni Philippe Terrier |
| author_facet | Sophia Piergiovanni Philippe Terrier |
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| description | The attractor complexity index (ACI) is a recently developed gait analysis tool based on nonlinear dynamics. This study assesses ACI’s sensitivity to attentional demands in gait control and its potential for characterizing age-related changes in gait patterns. Furthermore, we compare ACI with classical gait metrics to determine its efficacy relative to established methods. A 4 × 200 m indoor walking test with a triaxial accelerometer attached to the lower back was used to compare gait patterns of younger (N = 42) and older adults (N = 60) during normal and metronome walking. The other linear and non-linear gait metrics were movement intensity, gait regularity, local dynamic stability (maximal Lyapunov exponents), and scaling exponent (detrended fluctuation analysis). In contrast to other gait metrics, ACI demonstrated a specific sensitivity to metronome walking, with both young and old participants exhibiting altered stride interval correlations. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the young and old groups (standardized effect size: −0.77). Additionally, older participants exhibited slower walking speeds, a reduced movement intensity, and a lower gait regularity. The ACI is likely a sensitive marker for attentional load and can effectively discriminate age-related changes in gait patterns. Its ease of measurement makes it a promising tool for gait analysis in unsupervised (free-living) conditions. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj-art-9c0ff043410a4e06b2441d51c95add3e2025-08-20T02:38:48ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202024-11-012423742710.3390/s24237427Validity of Linear and Nonlinear Measures of Gait Variability to Characterize Aging Gait with a Single Lower Back AccelerometerSophia Piergiovanni0Philippe Terrier1Haute-Ecole Arc Santé, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, 2000 Neuchâtel, SwitzerlandHaute-Ecole Arc Santé, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, 2000 Neuchâtel, SwitzerlandThe attractor complexity index (ACI) is a recently developed gait analysis tool based on nonlinear dynamics. This study assesses ACI’s sensitivity to attentional demands in gait control and its potential for characterizing age-related changes in gait patterns. Furthermore, we compare ACI with classical gait metrics to determine its efficacy relative to established methods. A 4 × 200 m indoor walking test with a triaxial accelerometer attached to the lower back was used to compare gait patterns of younger (N = 42) and older adults (N = 60) during normal and metronome walking. The other linear and non-linear gait metrics were movement intensity, gait regularity, local dynamic stability (maximal Lyapunov exponents), and scaling exponent (detrended fluctuation analysis). In contrast to other gait metrics, ACI demonstrated a specific sensitivity to metronome walking, with both young and old participants exhibiting altered stride interval correlations. Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the young and old groups (standardized effect size: −0.77). Additionally, older participants exhibited slower walking speeds, a reduced movement intensity, and a lower gait regularity. The ACI is likely a sensitive marker for attentional load and can effectively discriminate age-related changes in gait patterns. Its ease of measurement makes it a promising tool for gait analysis in unsupervised (free-living) conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/23/7427gait analysisaccelerometersgait variabilitynonlinear dynamicsagingfall prevention |
| spellingShingle | Sophia Piergiovanni Philippe Terrier Validity of Linear and Nonlinear Measures of Gait Variability to Characterize Aging Gait with a Single Lower Back Accelerometer Sensors gait analysis accelerometers gait variability nonlinear dynamics aging fall prevention |
| title | Validity of Linear and Nonlinear Measures of Gait Variability to Characterize Aging Gait with a Single Lower Back Accelerometer |
| title_full | Validity of Linear and Nonlinear Measures of Gait Variability to Characterize Aging Gait with a Single Lower Back Accelerometer |
| title_fullStr | Validity of Linear and Nonlinear Measures of Gait Variability to Characterize Aging Gait with a Single Lower Back Accelerometer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Validity of Linear and Nonlinear Measures of Gait Variability to Characterize Aging Gait with a Single Lower Back Accelerometer |
| title_short | Validity of Linear and Nonlinear Measures of Gait Variability to Characterize Aging Gait with a Single Lower Back Accelerometer |
| title_sort | validity of linear and nonlinear measures of gait variability to characterize aging gait with a single lower back accelerometer |
| topic | gait analysis accelerometers gait variability nonlinear dynamics aging fall prevention |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/23/7427 |
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