Psychological cost of comfortable gait according to socioeconomic status in self-reliant elderly in Talca, Chile

Abstract

Introduction: Elderly functionality is conditioned by social, economic and cultural aspects. The Comfortable Gait Speed (cgs) is considered the most specific indicator of functional capacity, reflecting an associated Physiological Cost (fc). Under this scenario, the purpose of this research is to evaluate the Comfortable Gait Physiologic Cost (cgpc) according to Socioeconomic Status (ses) in self-reliant elderly. Materials and methods: 75 self-reliant elderly were classified into medium-low and medium-high SES levels. Each participant was asked to walk naturally for three minutes on an elliptical track. Traveled distance and heart rate were recorded every 15 seconds for the Physiological Cost Index (pci) calculation. Furthermore, the significant increase from baseline pci was established as the Critical Physiological Point (cpp). Results: There was no difference in the pci in relation to the sse (p = 0.885). However, it was higher in women (≈0,3 lat / m) when compared to men (≈ 0.2 beats/m; p < 0.001). The traveled distance was about 200 meters in both ses and gender, showing higher in the medium-low SES for the male versus the female group (p = 0.009). In women the cpp appears 15 seconds earlier in the medium-high ses, while in men the pci remains stable throughout the test. Conclusions: The ses does not influence the cgpc in self-reliant elderly; however gender is confirmed as the main factor in its translation. Methodological cpp inclusion is recommended given its relevance to the analysis of gait efficiency.