Normal Changes in Gait and Mobility Problems in the Elderly

There are normal physiologic changes that occur as people age. Gait and mobility are altered with aging, and these changes are a combination of alterations in the gait pattern and in the function of organs. Changes in gait are associated with functional decline, less independence, and impaired quality of life. Reduced walking speed is the most consistent age-related change, but there are other contributors to an altered gait: impaired balance and stability, lower extremity strength, and the fear of falling.