Manipulating walking path configuration influences gait variability and six-minute walk test outcomes in older and younger adults

• Variability and 6MWT test outcomes assessed in various walking path configurations.
• Walking path manipulation affected old and young similarly.
• Gait variability increased with reduced straight walking path length.
• 6MWT outcomes worse with reduced straight walking path length.

This study determined whether manipulations to walking path configuration influenced six-minute walk test (6MWT) outcomes and assessed how gait variability changes over the duration of the 6MWT in different walking path configurations. Healthy older (ODR) and younger (YNG) (n = 24) adults completed familiarisation trials and five randomly ordered experimental trials of the 6MWT with walking configurations of; 5, 10 and 15 m straight lines, a 6 m by 3 m rectangle (RECT), and a figure of eight (FIG8). Six-minute walk distance (6MWD) and walking speed (m.s−1) were recorded for all trials and the stride count recorded for experimental trials. Reflective markers were attached to the sacrum and feet with kinematic data recorded at 100 Hz by a nine-camera motion capture system for 5 m, 15 m and FIG8 trials, in order to calculate variability in stride and step length, stride width, stride and step time and double limb support time. Walking speeds and 6MWD were greatest in the 15 m and FIG8 experimental trials in both groups (p < 0.01). Step length and stride width variability were consistent over the 6MWT duration but greater in the 5 m trial vs. the 15 m and FIG8 trials (p < 0.05). Stride and step time and double limb support time variability all reduced between 10 and 30 strides (p < 0.01). Stride and step time variability were greater in the 5 m vs. 15 m and FIG8 trials (p < 0.01). Increasing uninterrupted gait and walking path length results in improved 6MWT outcomes and decreased gait variability in older and younger adults.