Lower Limb Extension Power is Associated With Slope Walking Joint Loading Mechanics in Older Adults.

Fall-related injuries are associated with muscle weakness and common during slope walking in older adults. However, no study has evaluated the relationship between muscle weakness, measured by maximal lower limb extension power, and older adults' ability to navigate slope walking for a better understanding of fall prevention. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association between maximal lower limb extension power and joint mechanics during slope walking. Fifteen healthy older adults were tested. Lower limb extension power was measured using the Leg Extension Power Rig. Kinematic and kinetic analysis was performed during level (0°), incline (10°), and decline (10°) slope walking. Greater maximal lower limb extension power was significantly (p < .050; Cohen's f2 > 0.35) associated with multiple kinetic and kinematic joint mechanic variables across stance phase of the gait cycle during level, incline, and decline walking. These findings will allow clinicians to better educate patients and develop interventions focused on fall prevention and improving functional mobility in older adults.

The validity and reliability of the OneStep smartphone application under various gait conditions in healthy adults with feasibility in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: Primary purpose of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of the OneStep smartphone application in healthy adults. Secondary purpose was to determine the feasibility of measuring gait dysfunction, limitation in spatiotemporal characteristics, longitudinally in patients following total hip or knee arthroplasty. METHODS: First objective, 20 healthy adults (mean age, 42.3 ± 19.7 years; 60% males; mean body mass index, 29.0 ± 5.2 kg/m2) underwent gait analysis under four gait conditions (self-selected gait speed, fixed gait speed at 0.8 m/s, fixed gait speed at 2.0 m/s and self-selected gait speed with dual task) for the validity and reliability of the smartphone to the motion laboratory. Reliability was determined by intraclass correlation coefficients. Validity was determined by Pearson correlations. Agreement was assessed by the Bland-Altman method. Second objective, 12 additional patients with total hip or knee arthroplasty (mean age, 58.7 ± 6.5 years; 58% males; mean body mass index, 28.9 ± 5.8 kg/m2) were measured at 2- and 10 weeks postoperatively. The smartphone application was used to evaluate change in gait dysfunction over time within the patients' own environment using paired t test. RESULTS: The smartphone application demonstrated moderate-to-excellent intraclass correlation coefficients for reliability between-system (ICC range, 0.56-0.99), -limb (ICC range, 0.62-0.99) and -device (ICC range, 0.61-0.96) for gait analysis of healthy adults. Pearson correlations were low-to-very high between methods (r range, 0.45-0.99). Bland-Altman analysis revealed relative underestimation of spatiotemporal variables by the smartphone application compared to the motion system. For patients following total hip or knee arthroplasty, gait analysis using the OneStep application demonstrated significant improvement (p < 0.001, Cohen's d > 0.95) in gait dysfunction between 2- and 10 weeks postoperatively. CONCLUSION: The smartphone application can be a valid, reliable and feasible alternative to motion laboratories in evaluating deficits in gait dysfunction in various environments and clinical settings.