Does Gait Quality Matter As You Grow Older?

May 22, 2025SparksHealth InformationNewsActive Living for SeniorsAge-Friendly CommunitiesAging and MobilityFall PreventionFall Prevention TipsFunctional DeclineGaitGait AnalysisHealthy AgingJoint Health in SeniorsMobilityOldolder adultsPhysical Activity in Older AdultsQuality of Life in AgingRehabilitation and BalanceSenior WellnessWalking and Gait Health

Walking plays a vital role in maintaining our quality of life. Research indicates that it contributes more than any other physical activity to our day-to-day well-being. However, nearly one in three adults over the age of 60 experiences some difficulty with walking.

As we grow older, subtle changes in our health and physical function can gradually affect the way we walk—often without us noticing. Yet our walking pattern, or gait, is more important than we might realize. An inefficient or altered gait can make walking more difficult and exhausting, increase stress on the joints, reduce stability, and significantly elevate the risk of falls.

To read more, kindly check this out: https://theconversation.com/why-gait-quality-matters-as-you-age-256636

Authors:

1. Helen Dawes

   Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter

2. Nancy E. Mayo

   Distinguished James McGill Professor, School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, McGill University