The Impact of Aging on Functional Mobility and Gait: Introduction

Course overview

The motor task of walking is ultimately a product of the characteristics of the individual, the environment in which one is immersed, and the task(s) performed while walking. As physical therapists we must be mindful of all components and strategically integrate appropriate challenges when targeting gait interventions. This course is designed to present the predictable set of age related changes of temporal & spatial gait characteristics and review the environmental & task demands of community ambulation. The value of collecting gait speed data, and its relationship to health, function, and mortality are emphasized.