Work

Association between the Functional Gait Assessment and spatiotemporal gait parameters in individuals with obesity compared to normal weight controls: A proof-of-concept study.

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: ) and whether impairment was related to spatiotemporal gait parameters. METHODS: Fourteen individuals with obese BMI and twenty individuals of normal weight underwent the FGA. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were collected while participants walked on a pressure sensitive walkway under five conditions: pre-baseline (flat ground walking), crossing small, medium, and high obstacles, and final-baseline (flat ground walking). RESULTS: Individuals with obesity had lower scores on the FGA (p≤0.001) and showed less efficient spatiotemporal gait parameters than healthy controls, particularly when crossing over obstacles (all ps≤0.05). For participants with obesity, lower FGA scores were associated with decreased gait velocity, but only during obstacle crossing (p≤0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The FGA may be a useful tool to capture gait impairment in populations with obesity. Obstacles may help reveal meaningful gait impairments. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the FGA in individuals with obesity, and represents a proof-of-concept that motivates further validation studies.

Source: PubMed Central

Authors: Phillip C Desrochers, Daekyoo Kim, Laura Keegan, Simone V Gill

Institution: Boston University

Language: English

Topic: Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention

Subfield: Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Award: Massive Weight Loss and Its Effects on Postural Stability and Fall Risks