Influences of Smartphone Use While Walking on Gait Parameters

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the influences of smartphone use while walking on gait parameters, involving 28 (16 males and 12 females) healthy adults. The subjects were instructed to walk along an approximately 20-m indoor walking course under 2 different conditions: walking normally and while using a smartphone. Measurement was performed in a 2.4-m section of the course using the gait analysis device Walk Way to compare the fol- lowing gait parameters: gait velocity, step and stride lengths, durations of the stance and double support phases, step width, and foot angle. When walking while usinga smart- phone compared with the normal gait condition, the gait velocity, as well asstepand stride lengths, significantly decreased, while the durations of the stance and double sup- port phases markedly increased, and the step width showed a tendency to increase. These results demonstrated that smartphone use while walking reduces the step and stride lengths while increasing the durations of the stance and double support phases, resulting in decreases in the gait velocity.