| Keywords |
Aged group ; Sex ; Walking speed ; Step length ; Walking companion |
| Abstract |
The variant walking pattern of free walkers at inner city park walking trails which have different characteristics of infrastructure was examined, and the pattern was analyzed according to age groups, sex, and an existence of companion for walking. The three walking trails were selected; 1) a flat and straight trail along with a river stream without dead end (RW), 2) a flat circular trail along side of a lake (LW), and 3) a mixed slope trail within a park with irregular intersections (PW). A total of 658 free walkers were analyzed and divided into three groups by age; 1) young group (20-39 yrs old), 2) middle aged group (40-59 yrs old), and 3) old aged group (>60 yrs old), by sex, and by an existence of walking companion. The video was unnoticeably taped and the analyses were performed by Dart Fish program. Both walking speed and step length at PW was faster and longer, respectively, than two other trails in both men and women (P<0.05). The young and middle aged walkers showed variant responses at all three trails, but the infrastructure of park trail did not influence on walking pattern of old aged group. The free walkers were slower and showed shorter step length whey they walked with companions (P<0.05). Further studies are necessary regarding the walking pattern in case of walking with companions. |