How Does Gait Change with Age

Changes in gait with aging, such as decreased walking speed and step length and increased double support time, are apparent by observation and well established in the clinical and epidemiological literature. The reason that apparently healthy elders walk slower and take shorter steps is not well understood.

How does age affect gait?

Age is known to have an effect on gait, with young people walking faster, with longer steps and a higher step frequency compared with elderly people [6]. These changes in gait could be attributed to decline of physical and neurological functions with aging.

How do you describe an elderly gait?

Changes in Gait with Aging 18,19 Other characteristics of gait that commonly change with aging include an increased stance width, increased time spent in the double support phase (i.e., with both feet on the ground), bent posture, and less vigorous force development at the moment of push off.