Difference in trunk stability during semicircular turns with and without a bag in elderly women.

Background: Direction changes while walking are more likely to cause a hip fracture than is falling while walking in a straight line. Trunk stability is an important contributor to safe and effective walking, and arm movements influence trunk movement while walking. However, the difference in the trunk stability during semicircular turns performed by elderly women with a light bag has not been examined.

Objective: To investigate the effects of carrying a bag on trunk stability during semicircular turns in elderly women.

Methods: We enrolled 15 community-dwelling elderly women capable of independent walking. Participants walked with and without a bag at a self-selected speed along a marked path, which included semicircular turns, while fitted with an accelerometer attached over the L3 spinous process.

Results: Gait velocity was faster during semicircular turning with a bag versus without a bag. The normalized medial-lateral center of mass acceleration was lower during semicircular turning with a bag versus without a bag.

Conclusions: We suggest that a light additional arm load and increased arm swing contributes to trunk stability and efficient walking during semicircular turning by elderly women.