ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN BODY COMPOSITION AND MOVEMENTS DURING GAIT IN WOMEN

The aim of this paper is to explore the relationships between gait parameters and body composition in healthy women. A cross-sectional study with a sample composed of 112 healthy adult women (64.1 +/- 8.6 years). The subjects walked a distance of 20 meters with a triaxial accelerometer attached at the fourth lumbar vertebra. The test was repeated three times and the mean of the three trials was used for the analysis. Clinical indicators (Timed Up and Go Test, 6-Minute Walk Test and waist perimeter) and body composition (bioimpedance) were also evaluated. Total body and lower limb fat mass percentages were strongly correlated with the average acceleration in vertical axis and the minimum value of module vector of the accelerations. In women over the age of 71, the percentage of total body fat and lower limbs determines body movements during gait. Therefore, the amount of fat mass is related to the stability in the gait of the elderly.