Screening of BMI in Biomechenical Parameters of Gait in Young Adults

To study the effects of BMI on temporal-spatial gait parameters in young adults. Study Design, Experimental study.

40 young adults both male and female were selected. Each participant BMI was calculated after taking their height and weight. Then we divided 40 students in each category of BMI keeping 10 students in each group respectively. Each participant was instructed to walk over 20meter area on a selected even surface both indoor and outdoor at his or her normal pace wearing normal footwear. Step length and cadence were measured and gait velocity was calculated of each participant. Results were then compared for both outdoor and indoor walk of underweight, overweight and obese individuals with normal weight group data.

The results of this study revealed statistically no significant differences in the measured variables between four groups i.e. underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese young individuals in both outdoor and indoor settings. In conclusion, overweight, and obese young adults walked with shorter step length and with slow gait speed due to their shorter steps in indoor setting as compared with their outdoor walking and when compared to normal weight young adult's data. While there was, no significant differences found between underweight step length, cadence and gait velocity in both outdoor and indoor walk when compared with normal individual's data but their results were better than obese and overweight groups.