An observational study of the impact of professional walking aid prescription on gait parameters for individuals with suspected balance impairments.

Background

The primary management strategy for gait impairment is the adoption of a walking aid. However, there are no established criteria upon which to base a decision regarding the need for a walking aid. It appears clinicians prescribe aids based on preference, clinical experience and intuition rather than standardised objective rationale. This may contribute to the inconsistent gait response to walking aids reported in the published literature. Understanding gait changes resulting from gait aid usage may have significant impact on clinical practice by improving confidence of prescribing clinicians and compliance of walking aid usage by patients, maximising the benefits of use, and reducing any risks associated with non-use or inappropriate use, of the walking aid.

Research question

Do professionally prescribed walking aids improve gait parameters?

Methods

This is a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study where participants, identified by healthcare staff requiring a mobility assessment due to potential balance impairment of any cause, walked a 20-m straight walking course under three different walking conditions (no aid, walking stick and 4-wheeled walker). Fifty-eight participants were recruited. Commonly reported spatial and temporal gait parameters were assessed using a validated gait analysis device. Changes in gait parameters across the three conditions were compared, noting the individual's professionally prescribed aid and interpreting changes in parameters towards outcomes of the 'no aid required group'.

Results and significance

Gait cycle, cadence, stance, swing and stride length during unaided walking were significantly changed when a walking stick was prescribed (p < 0.05). Stance, swing, double support, stride length, speed, max toe clearance and minimum toe clearance were significantly changed when a 4-wheel walker was prescribed (p < 0.05). Professional walking aid prescription improves some gait parameters. A greater number and magnitude of gait parameter improvements were seen in people requiring a 4-wheel walker than people requiring a walking stick.

Informations de copyright

© 2024 The Authors.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Baeho Joo reports financial support was provided by the 10.13039/501100024972Health Education and Training Institute of 10.13039/100010635Hunter New England Local Health District, Australia. All authors, Baeho Joo, Jodie Marquez and Peter Osmotherly, declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.