Gait Spatio-Temporal Parameters Vary Significantly Between Indoor, Outdoor and Different Surfaces
Human gait is usually studied in clinical environments, but wearable devices have extended gait analysis beyond traditional assessments. Older adults tend to walk differently indoors and outdoors; however, most gait assessments are conducted on indoor surfaces. It is therefore important to evaluate...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| author | Lorenzo Brognara Alberto Arceri Marco Zironi Francesco Traina Cesare Faldini Antonio Mazzotti |
| author_facet | Lorenzo Brognara Alberto Arceri Marco Zironi Francesco Traina Cesare Faldini Antonio Mazzotti |
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| description | Human gait is usually studied in clinical environments, but wearable devices have extended gait analysis beyond traditional assessments. Older adults tend to walk differently indoors and outdoors; however, most gait assessments are conducted on indoor surfaces. It is therefore important to evaluate gait in various outdoor environments. Insights gained from these assessments significantly enhance our understanding of the impact of environmental factors on gait performance and ensure that clinical evaluations are effectively aligned with everyday locomotion. A total of 100 participants with foot pain, 38 young (18–45 years) and 62 older adults (65–80 years), completed a 10-Metre Walk Test (10MWT) in three randomised conditions at their typical, comfortable walking pace, including (1) 10MWT of indoor walking, (2) 10MWT of outdoor walking on grass and (3) 10MWT of outdoor walking on a sidewalk. Wearable inertial sensors recorded gait data and the magnitudes of the following gait measures: gait speed, cadence, stride length, stride duration and asymmetry. A statistical analysis using ANOVA and post hoc comparisons revealed a significantly lower gait speed (<i>p</i> < 0.001), lower stride length (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and lower asymmetry (<i>p</i> < 0.001) indoors compared to outdoors, demonstrating that environmental factors significantly affect spatio-temporal gait parameters. Wearable sensor-based gait analysis performed in controlled clinical settings may underestimate real-life conditions. Some important spatio-temporal parameters, useful in detecting people with gait impairment and at risk of falling, are significantly affected by environment and individual postural ability more than demographic factors. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c428050eb3a74e4bac7ceaa538feb69c2025-08-20T02:06:15ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-02-01255131410.3390/s25051314Gait Spatio-Temporal Parameters Vary Significantly Between Indoor, Outdoor and Different SurfacesLorenzo Brognara0Alberto Arceri1Marco Zironi2Francesco Traina3Cesare Faldini4Antonio Mazzotti5Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, ItalyHuman gait is usually studied in clinical environments, but wearable devices have extended gait analysis beyond traditional assessments. Older adults tend to walk differently indoors and outdoors; however, most gait assessments are conducted on indoor surfaces. It is therefore important to evaluate gait in various outdoor environments. Insights gained from these assessments significantly enhance our understanding of the impact of environmental factors on gait performance and ensure that clinical evaluations are effectively aligned with everyday locomotion. A total of 100 participants with foot pain, 38 young (18–45 years) and 62 older adults (65–80 years), completed a 10-Metre Walk Test (10MWT) in three randomised conditions at their typical, comfortable walking pace, including (1) 10MWT of indoor walking, (2) 10MWT of outdoor walking on grass and (3) 10MWT of outdoor walking on a sidewalk. Wearable inertial sensors recorded gait data and the magnitudes of the following gait measures: gait speed, cadence, stride length, stride duration and asymmetry. A statistical analysis using ANOVA and post hoc comparisons revealed a significantly lower gait speed (<i>p</i> < 0.001), lower stride length (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and lower asymmetry (<i>p</i> < 0.001) indoors compared to outdoors, demonstrating that environmental factors significantly affect spatio-temporal gait parameters. Wearable sensor-based gait analysis performed in controlled clinical settings may underestimate real-life conditions. Some important spatio-temporal parameters, useful in detecting people with gait impairment and at risk of falling, are significantly affected by environment and individual postural ability more than demographic factors.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1314wearable sensorgaitoutdoorgait speedfallstride length |
| spellingShingle | Lorenzo Brognara Alberto Arceri Marco Zironi Francesco Traina Cesare Faldini Antonio Mazzotti Gait Spatio-Temporal Parameters Vary Significantly Between Indoor, Outdoor and Different Surfaces Sensors wearable sensor gait outdoor gait speed fall stride length |
| title | Gait Spatio-Temporal Parameters Vary Significantly Between Indoor, Outdoor and Different Surfaces |
| title_full | Gait Spatio-Temporal Parameters Vary Significantly Between Indoor, Outdoor and Different Surfaces |
| title_fullStr | Gait Spatio-Temporal Parameters Vary Significantly Between Indoor, Outdoor and Different Surfaces |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gait Spatio-Temporal Parameters Vary Significantly Between Indoor, Outdoor and Different Surfaces |
| title_short | Gait Spatio-Temporal Parameters Vary Significantly Between Indoor, Outdoor and Different Surfaces |
| title_sort | gait spatio temporal parameters vary significantly between indoor outdoor and different surfaces |
| topic | wearable sensor gait outdoor gait speed fall stride length |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1314 |
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