Gait & Posture · Jun 16, 2026

Age-related differences in gait among community-dwelling senior adults in Japan: A cross-sectional study using a markerless motion analysis system

By Larsen ST, Madeleine P, Matsuda T et al.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The global demographic shift increases the urgency of detecting mobility decline in senior adults, as reduced gait function is a key risk factor for falls and loss of independence. Gait assesments made using markerless motion analysis offers a scalable and low-burden alternative to laboratory-based system. This study examined age-related differences in gait parameters using a novel markerless system in a large cohort of community-dwelling senior adults in Japan. METHODS: A cross-sectional sample of 691 community-dwelling adults aged 69-89 years from the Bunkyo Health Study was analysed. Gait speed, stride length, cadence, toe clearance and lower-limb joints range of motion (ROM) were extracted from the leading and trailing leg over 3.4 gait cycles (on average) at comfortable self-selected speed. Associations between age and gait parameters were examined using multiple linear regression adjusted for sex, height, fall history and cognitive function. RESULTS: Age was associated with lower gait speed (-0.014 m/s per year), shorter stride length (-0.012 m per year), reduced toe clearance (-0.001 m per year) and reduced hip (-0.37° per year) and knee ROM (-0.24° per year). CONCLUSIONS: Using markerless motion analysis, this study revealed combined age-related decline in spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters in a large sample of community-dwelling senior adults.

doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2026.110261Open accessPubMed 42322782Populations