The Potential for Effect of a Six-Week Training Program for Gait Aid Use in Older People with Dementia with Unsteadiness of Gait: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This study examined the potential for effect of a six-week gait aid training program for people with dementia on spatiotemporal gait outcomes, perception of use, and falls with gait aid use. The program utilised four 30-min physiotherapy home visits, scheduled at weeks 1/2/3/6, and was enhanced by carer-supervised practice. Falls and the physiotherapist’s clinical judgement of participants achieving safe gait aid use during and after the program were described. Perception ratings at each visit were measured using Likert scales which, along with the spatiotemporal outcomes using the gait aid (Time-Up-and-Go-Test, 4-m-walk-test, Figure-of-8-Walk-Test with/without a cognitive task) at weeks 1 and 6, and at weeks 6 and 12 (6-week post-program), were examined with ordinal logistic regression analyses. Twenty-four community-dwelling older people with dementia and their carers participated. Twenty-one (87.5%) older people achieved safe gait aid use. Twenty falls occurred, and only one faller was using their gait aid when they fell. Walking speed, step length, and cadence significantly improved when walking with the gait aid at week 6 compared with week 1. No significant improvements in spatiotemporal outcomes were retained at week 12. Physiotherapists were more likely to agree that gait aid use had improved walking safety among older people with dementia with subsequent training visits. Larger studies of the gait aid training program are needed for this clinical group.