The relationship between frontal plane gait variability and ankle range of motion in middle-aged and older persons with neuropathy.

Objective: To explore the relationship between frontal plane ankle range of motion (ROM) and frontal plane control during gait, as determined by step-width variability and step-width range, among middle-aged and older persons with peripheral neuropathy (PN).

Methods: Observational study of 39 adults (mean age +/- standard deviation = 64.7 +/- 9.5 yrs) with PN. Demographic and clinical data, including measures of ankle ROM and PN severity, and spatiotemporal gait measures were obtained. Correlation and multivariate analyses were used to identify relationships between measures of ankle ROM and frontal plane gait variability.

Results: Significant negative correlations were identified between frontal plane ankle ROM (inversion + eversion), and step-width variability (r = -0.344; P = 0.032) and step-width range (r = -0.386, P = 0.015). Multivariate analyses showed that the relationship between ankle ROM and step-width variability weakened in the presence of PN severity, with ROM and PN severity both demonstrating trends toward independent associations with step-width variability (P = 0.086 and 0.083, respectively; adjusted r2 = 0.145). However, ankle ROM demonstrated a stronger association with step-width range than did PN severity (P = 0.043 and 0.098, respectively; adjusted r2 = 0.169).

Conclusions: Increased frontal plane ankle ROM is associated with decreased variability in frontal plane foot placement during gait among middle-aged and older persons with PN, a population at high risk for falls.