Gait alteration during turning while walking in older adults with benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo

Abstract

Background Older adults with Benign Paroxysmal Positioning Vertigo (BPPV) may present with unsteadiness that affects gait patterns.Objective This study investigated the spatiotemporal gait parameters and indicators of turning difficulty during the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test in older adults with BPPV.Methods This case-controlled study collected data from older adults aged 65 and above with BPPV, young adults with BPPV and older adults without BPPV. Postural stability and self-perception of stability were measured using the Functional Gait Analysis and the Malay version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, respectively. The spatiotemporal gait parameters were recorded using a camera. The one-way ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis.Results Older adults with BPPV presented with alteration in gait parameters (time and number of steps) compared to older adults without BPPV and adults with BPPV during the TUG test (p < 0.05). During the straight walking tasks of the TUG test, there were significant differences in stride length and velocity between the three groups (p < 0.05). Older adults with BPPV presented with less pivoting and took longer time and more steps to complete the turning phase of the TUG.Conclusions The findings suggest that gait performance was compromised in older adults with BPPV.

Keywords

• Gait
• older adults
• spatiotemporal parameters
• turning
• vertigo
• walking