JMIR Aging · Published 2026-05-12 · DOI 10.2196/81630
Francesca R Marino, Minzae Kim, Phillip H. Hwang, Yorghos Tripodis, Michael L. Alosco, Jesse Mez, Ann McKee, Rhoda Au, Robert J Thomas, Ludy Shih
Abstract BackgroundHigher step width variability while walking is associated with poor physical function and falls. Sleep is an established modifiable risk factor for both gait and physical function impairments, but it remains to be examined whether sleep is also related to step width variability. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the cross-sectional associations between objectively measured sleep quality, using cardiopulmonary coupling spectrograms, and step width variability during a preferred walking condition among middle-aged and older adults. MethodsThis study included 72 adults (mean age 71, SD 8.3 y; n=37, 51% female; n=65, 90% non-Hispanic White) who had ≥2 nights of objectively measured sleep (cardiopulmonary coupling via SleepImage ring) and completed a 10-m walk at preferred speed while wearing inertial sensors (APDM Mobility Lab). Sleep measures included sleep duration, efficiency, fragmentation, stability, apnea-hypopnea index, percentage of time ResultsWe found that a 1% higher sleep fragmentation was associated with a 6% higher probability of step width variability ≥7.5 cm (95% CI 1.01‐1.11), while a 1% higher sleep stability was associated with a 5% lower probability of variability ≥7.5 cm (95% CI 0.91‐0.99), compared to minimal variability. From the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator models, we found that a 1% higher sleep quality index, a 1% higher rapid eye movement sleep, a 1-second shorter apnea duration, and a 1-beat per minute slower mean heart rate were also associated with a lower probability of lateral compared to minimal displacement. ConclusionsPoor sleep quality was associated with higher step width variability among middle-aged and older adults. This suggests that sleep may be a modifiable risk factor for maintaining postural stability while walking among middle-aged and older adults. Future studies are needed to examine whether intervening in these sleep measures also lowers the risk of falls.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
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Marino, F., Kim, M., Hwang, P., et al. (2026). Impact of Sleep Quality on Gait Variability: Pilot Cohort Study. JMIR Aging. https://doi.org/10.2196/81630