[Assessment of gait disorders in older people]

Rev Med Suisse. 2008 Nov 5;4(178):2387-8, 2390-1.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Gait disorders are frequent and important to assess in older people because they provide unique diagnostic and prognostic information. Gait disorders can be regarded as a marker of frailty because they are associated with several adverse consequences, including falls, cognitive disorders, functional decline, institutionalization, hospitalization, and death. Using structured instruments, gait assessment could be performed in primary care practice to classify the level of sensorimotor deficit and provide the necessary information to decide how to best intervene to improve gait performances, prevent falls as well as functional decline.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / prevention & control
  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Aged
  • Cognition Disorders / complications
  • Exercise Therapy
  • Frail Elderly
  • Gait / physiology
  • Gait Disorders, Neurologic / diagnosis*
  • Gait Disorders, Neurologic / therapy
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Health Status
  • Hospitalization
  • Humans
  • Institutionalization
  • Prognosis
  • Walking / physiology