Time and Frequency Domain Analysis of Gait Initiation in Younger and Older Adults

The purpose of study was to demonstrate age-related changes during gait initiation (GI). Therefore, displacement, velocity, total power, mean and median frequency of COP trajectories were measured during phases of GI in anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions. The older group demonstrated the slower and lesser displacement in comparison with the younger group during anticipatory phase in AP direction and during locomotor phase in AP and ML directions. In addition, the median and mean frequency were greater in the older relative to the younger group during anticipatory phase in AP direction, while these were lesser in older than younger group during locomotor phase in AP and ML directions. Moreover, total power was greater among older than younger adults during the anticipatory phase in ML direction and during all phases in AP direction. This study suggests that COP-related parameters extracted from time and frequency domains have the ability to demonstrate age-related changes.