Spatial-temporal gait parameters in RA post-menopausal women fallers and non-fallers

This study aimed to compare spatial-temporal gait parameters and its intra-individual variability of RA post-menopausal women fallers with non-fallers. Twenty-six RA post-menopausal women were selected and answered the question: "How many times did you fall last year?". Subjects with at least one fall in previous year were allocated to fallers group. Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score was used to assess functional capacity. Optoelectrical 3D motion analyses were used to gait assessment (Vicon® system, 9 infrared cameras, 200 Hz). Subjects walked barefoot at natural and self-selected speed. Seven trials of the left and right foot-steps on a force plate were collected. Thirteen subjects had at least a fall in previous year. Fallers were older and showed higher HAQ scores (p<0.05). They yielded lower gait speed, lower cadence, lower stride length, higher stance phase, higher double support phase, and lower single support phase (p<0.001). Regarding intra-individual variability, the fallers group showed higher coefficient of variation values for all spatial-temporal gait parameters (p<0.05), except for double support phase. Age seems to be an important variable concerning falls in these patients. RA post-menopausal women with falls history yielded changes in spatial-temporal gait parameters and in its intra-individual variability, and presented a lower functional capacity.