Individuals with obesity walk with shorter strides and have potential risk of falling: Study

Previous research has shown a link between obesity and altered gait patterns, but the role of body fat distribution in this relationship has not been extensively studied. This study was published in PLoS One journal by Wael M. and colleagues.

The objective of the study was to investigate the impact of body fat distribution on gait parameters and ankle muscle coactivation in obese individuals. The study included three groups: a non-obese control group, an obese-android group characterized by central fat distribution, and an obese-gynoid group with fat distributed more peripherally.

Participants walked on an instrumented treadmill while their gait parameters and ankle muscle activity were measured. Spatiotemporal parameters, ground reaction forces, and center of pressure velocity were assessed, along with electromyography (EMG) activity of ankle muscles. The key findings of the study were:

• The study found significant differences in gait parameters and ankle muscle coactivation between the obese-android and obese-gynoid groups (p<0.05).

• The obese-gynoid group exhibited shorter strides, lower center of pressure velocity, and different patterns of muscle coactivation during walking compared to the obese-android group (p<0.05).

The findings suggest that body fat distribution plays a significant role in shaping gait mechanics and neuromuscular adaptations in obese individuals. Understanding these differences may help tailor interventions for obesity-related gait abnormalities, potentially leading to more effective rehabilitation strategies.

Reference:

Maktouf, W., Ferhi, H., Boyas, S., Beaune, B., Gaied Chortane, S., Portero, P., & Durand, S. The influence of obesity and fat distribution on ankle muscle coactivation during gait. PloS One,2024;19(3):e0294692. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.029469