Minimal toe clearance in older adults when walking on level, uphill and downhill conditions

Abstract

As people age, changes in gait parameters are commonly observed, and have been shown to increase the risk of mobility decline and falls. Minimal Toe Clearance (MTC) is the minimum vertical distance between the toe and the ground during the mid-swing phase of the gait cycle. MTC is a key gait parameter indicative of tripping. However, research on MTC is limited to walking on level surfaces, which do not reflect normal daily activities (Al Bochi et al., 2021; Avalos et al., 2024). We aimed to evaluate how MTC and its variation differ among level, uphill, and downhill walking conditions in older adults. This information is important for creating gerontechnology systems to evaluate mobility and fall risk in older adults in real-world environments with diverse challenges.