Transdigital · Aug 24, 2026
Descriptive analysis of gait using inertial sensors and clinical assessment in older adults
By Valle VH, Hernández MPG, Mellado JHMFV et al.
The aging process leads to a gradual decline in physical and mental capacities and an increased risk of disease. Older adults are particularly susceptible to a decline in their locomotor capacity. The objective of the research was to assess gait in older adults using inertial sensors and clinical assessment. The study was descriptive, using a clinical assessment that included analysis of lower limb length, differences in scapular height, differences in pelvic height, ability to walk on tiptoes, and presence of a limping gait. Gait speed, cadence, and symmetry were also measured using inertial sensors. The results indicated that gait and cadence had a mean of 100 steps per minute; a mean speed of 0.74 m/s was obtained; and 68 % of participants exhibited symmetry. In addition, clinical gait analysis found that 21 % of participants exhibited a limping gait. Furthermore, scapular asymmetry was observed in 52 % of participants and pelvic asymmetry in another 48 %. Therefore, clinical assessment is considered to remain an indispensable tool in gait assessment; however, it is important to corroborate the observations with state-of-the-art equipment that bases its results on precise data, since it uses accelerometers and gyroscopes that allow the detection of micromovements that are not observed by the human eye during visual inspection.