Table 1.
Smoothness of Walking, M (SD) of Harmonic Ratio for Young and Old During Various Walking Conditions
| Young | Old | Unadjusted Difference (SE) | p Value | Adjusted Difference (SE) | p Value | |
| Harmonic ratio—anterior/posterior | ||||||
| Usual straight path | 4.46 (1.36) | 2.68 (1.15) | 1.78 (0.36) | <.0001 | 1.42 (0.37) | .0002 |
| Slow | 3.80 (1.86) | 2.37 (1.26) | 1.43 (0.36) | .0001 | 1.11 (0.36) | .003 |
| Circle | 3.89 (1.66) | 2.30 (1.03) | 1.59 (0.36) | <.0001 | 1.16 (0.39) | .003 |
| Dual task | 3.63 (1.65) | 2.06 (1.00) | 1.56 (0.36) | <.0001 | 1.08 (0.38) | .005 |
| Harmonic ratio—vertical | ||||||
| Usual straight path | 4.50 (1.84) | 4.00 (1.40) | 0.50 (0.43) | .25 | −0.10 (0.44) | .83 |
| Slow | 3.79 (1.92) | 3.00 (1.66) | 0.79 (0.43) | .07 | 0.36 (0.42) | .39 |
| Circle | 4.14 (1.89) | 3.36 (1.74) | 0.78 (0.43) | .07 | 0.08 (0.45) | .86 |
| Dual task | 3.53 (1.35) | 2.89 (1.45) | 0.64 (0.43) | .14 | −0.06 (0.45) | .89 |
| Harmonic ratio—medial/lateral | ||||||
| Usual straight path | 2.72 (1.21) | 2.68 (1.07) | 0.04 (0.26) | .88 | 0.14 (0.28) | .61 |
| Slow | 2.31 (1.13) | 2.49 (1.20) | −0.18 (0.26) | .50 | −0.14 (0.27) | .60 |
| Circle | 1.86 (0.77) | 2.48 (0.94) | −0.61 (0.26) | .02 | −0.46 (0.29) | .11 |
| Dual task | 2.11 (0.86) | 2.34 (0.92) | −0.23 (0.26) | .39 | 0.12 (0.29) | .68 |
| Gait speed | ||||||
| Usual straight path | 1.36 (0.17) | 1.10 (0.28) | 0.26 (0.06) | <.0001 | — | — |
| Slow | 0.97 (0.17) | 0.80 (0.24) | 0.17 (0.06) | .002 | — | — |
| Circle | 1.28 (0.15) | 0.96 (0.24) | 0.32 (0.06) | <.0001 | — | — |
| Dual task | 1.16 (0.18) | 0.85 (0.26) | 0.31 (0.06) | <.0001 | — | — |