Spectral Analysis in Walking Balance by Elderly Subjects

Elderly people lose their rhythm of walking balance, because their body alignment and standing balance become less stable through aging. The fluctuations of both hips movement while walking were measured using a portable measurement system with two accelerometers. Before they have had physical exercise and when walking without shoe insoles, the fluctuations of the hip movement, having back and knee pain, was not rhythmic, and also not proportional to 1/f (f=frequency) fluctuation, their walking was unstable. After physical exercise and walking with insoles, their walking became rhythmic and was approximately close to proportional to 1/f fluctuation, and their walking improved. This study provides useful information for the improvement of walking