Wearable sensors provide new insights into outdoor walking in older adults
The aim of the study was to validate wearable sensors for measuring gait in older adults’ outdoor environments on level and hilly terrain. The study also examined differences in gait biomechanics across various outdoor environments, as well as the relationship between balance confidence and walking.
Participants were residents of Central Finland aged 70 or older, with no neurological or other physician-diagnosed conditions affecting gait.
The results of this dissertation research showed that wearable sensors are suitable for assessing temporal gait parameters such as cadence and stride duration both in laboratory and outdoor settings. Differences in gait parameters were observed between different environments and across levels of balance confidence.
“When walking uphill outdoors, the step frequency was lower and the stance phase duration longer compared to walking on level ground or downhill. However, step variability was greatest during uphill walking. Additionally, older adults with higher self-reported balance confidence appeared to show less variability in their gait. This was particularly evident during uphill walking.” says doctoral researcher Emmi Matikainen-Tervola.
“Individual factors, such as perceived confidence in one’s mobility, should be considered when designing interventions to support physical activity. The role of the environment—as a facilitator, challenge, or barrier to walking ability—is also important to acknowledge,” Matikainen-Tervola emphasizes.
Emmi Matikainen-Tervola’s doctoral research is part of the GaitAge project, a collaboration between JAMK University of Applied Sciences and the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä. The project is titled “Gait features in different environments contributing to participation in outdoor activities in old.” GaitAge project was funded by the Research Council of Finland and finalization phase of dissertation was supported by the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä.
Emmi Matikainen-Tervola will defend her doctoral dissertation ”Measuring older adults’ walking parameters outdoors using wearable sensors” on Thursday November 20, 2025, at 12:00 in the Assembly Hall (C1), Main building, University of Jyväskylä. The opponent will be Professor Kiros Karamanidis (Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Koblenz, Saksa, School of Applied and Health Sciences, and London South Bank University, United Kingdom) and the Custos Associate Professor Merja Rantakokko (University of Jyväskylä). The event is held in English.
