Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine (대한물리의학회지)

The Korean Society of Physical Medicine (대한물리의학회)
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Comparison of Walking in Elderly People and Adults Using a Walker Aid with a Pocket Attachment

  • Kwag, Sung-won (Department of Occupational Therapy, Sung Duk College) ;
  • Shin, Eun-ji (Department of Physical Therapy, Kangwon University) ;
  • Park, Jeong-uk (Graduate School of Kangwon National University) ;
  • Roh, Hyo-lyun (Department of Physical Therapy, Kangwon University)
  • Received : 2015.07.13
  • Accepted : 2015.08.12
  • Published : 2015.08.31
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Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the impact of the location of a walker-aid pocket that is attached to the walker while walking. METHODS: The research subjects included 10 male adults and 10 elderly people. The subjects used a two-wheeled walker for the walking analysis, and a firm velcro-type pocket that can be attached to the walker aid was used for weight loading. The size of the external loads was set at 2kg, which corresponds to approximately 2.5% of the mean body weight of the subjects. The pocket was attached to the left, center, and right sides of the walker aid. Stride length, stride, step width, and time were investigated according to the location change. RESULTS: No statistical differences were observed in all the walking factors among the adults and elderly people regardless of the changes in the location of the walker pocket. In cases of no weight and the 2kg walker pocket, stride length and strides were longer for the adults, while the step width was greater and walking time was longer for the elderly people. CONCLUSION: The weight of the walker pocket turn out to retard walking speed, although the location of the walker pocket is not affect walking with the walker-aid.

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References

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