TITLE:
Age and Gender Differences in the Step Test with Stipulated Tempos
AUTHORS:
Shunsuke Yamaji, Shin-Ichi Demura, Hiroki Aoki
KEYWORDS:
Dynamic Balance, Step, Elderly
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Aging Research,
Vol.3 No.3,
July
30,
2014
ABSTRACT: This study examined differences in tempos of a step test with a
stipulated tempo by age levels and gender. Subjects were 316 healthy males and
females in the age range of 10 - 80 years. They performed the step test twice
for 20 seconds, stepping alternately while a beeping metronome was adjusted to
40 bpm, 60 bpm, and 120 bpm. It was assumed that if the total time discrepancy
between the tempos when the foot was grounded was small, people could adjust
their steps to different tempos well. The results of a three-way ANOVA showed a
significant age difference at 40 bpm. A multiple comparison showed that the
total time discrepancy was smaller in 10 - 50 years old than in 60 - 80 years
old in males and females. The total time discrepancy at 40 bpm was larger than
that at 120 bpm in 10 - 50 years old, and larger in the order of 40, 60, and
120 bpm in 60 - 80 years old. The total time discrepancy showed insignificant
gender differences at all ages and tempos. In conclusion, people over 60 years
were less able to adjust their steps to a slow tempo than people younger than
50 years. Further, it was more difficult for people under 60 years to adjust their
steps to a slower tempo, and a difference in tempos in people over 70 years
largely affected their step movements.