The Impact of Walking Meditation on Gait Symmetry Index in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment (걷기명상이 인지저하노인의 보행 대칭성 지수에 미치는 영향)

Su Bin Min (민수빈); Han Suk Lee (이한숙); Hee Chang Seon (선희창)

doi:10.13066/kspm.2025.20.4.125

The Impact of Walking Meditation on Gait Symmetry Index in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment

Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
Abbr : J Korean Soc Phys Med
2025, 20(4), pp.125~134
DOI : 10.13066/kspm.2025.20.4.125
Publisher : The Korean Society of Physical Medicine
Research Area : Medicine and Pharmacy > Physical Therapy > Other physical therapy
Received : August 6, 2025
Accepted : August 28, 2025
Published : November 30, 2025

Su Bin Min ¹, Han Suk Lee ², Hee Chang Seon ¹

¹을지대학교 물리치료학과 일반대학원
²을지대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyze the effects of a six-week walking meditation program on the gait symmetry index in older adults aged 65 years and older with cognitive impairment. METHODS: A total of 16 older adults attending a day-care center participated in the study and were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n = 8) or the control group (n = 8). The experimental group performed a walking meditation program twice a week for 30 minutes per session in a quiet, designated space. The control group engaged in regular indoor walking under the same frequency and duration. Before and after the intervention, gait parameters—cadence, swing phase, stance phase, and center of force (COF) —were measured using the F-scan system, a tool that captures timing and pressure data related to foot function and gait. RESULTS: In the experimental group, the symmetry indices for cadence, swing phase, stance phase, and COF significantly decreased (p < .05), indicating reduced gait asymmetry following the walking meditation intervention. In the control group, only the COF symmetry index showed a significant decrease (p < .05), with no other significant changes observed (p > .05). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups across all variables (p > .05). CONCLUSION: This study supports the clinical efficacy of walking meditation in improving gait symmetry among older adults with cognitive impairment. Further research with a larger sample size and long-term follow-up is recommended to confirm the sustainability of these effects.

KEYWORDS

Cognitive impairment, Gait symmetry index, Older adults, Walking meditation

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Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine 2025 KCI Impact Factor : 1.09

The Impact of Walking Meditation on Gait Symmetry Index in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment

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* References for papers published after 2025 are currently being built.

Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine 2025 KCI Impact Factor : 1.09

The Impact of Walking Meditation on Gait Symmetry Index in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment

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KEYWORDS

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